In the Mykolaiv region, all steppe areas within the Varyushynske Forestry have been identified. During the reorganization of the state-owned enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” (DP “Lisy Ukrayiny”), this forestry was merged into the Veselynivske Forestry, a part of the Mykolaiv Forest Enterprise branch.
Throughout 2024, the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group (UNCG) worked with “Forests of Ukraine” as part of a working group under the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration (Mykolaivska OVA). The group’s task was to analyze afforestation funds and survey all steppe areas important for biodiversity conservation.
The locations of plant species from the Red Data Book of Ukraine (the national list of endangered species) and the Mykolaiv Regional Red List were recorded on all sites. Most of this information has been uploaded to the iNaturalist platform.
Overall, the former Varyushynske Forestry contains 279.2 hectares of steppe, which accounts for over 18% of the forestry’s total area.
Afforestation has already been prohibited on some of the previously surveyed plots. The remaining plots will be approved for protection at the next working group meeting. This effort has effectively conserved nearly 300 hectares of steppe.
So far, 13 species of plants listed in the Red Book of Ukraine have been identified, including granite broom (Genista graniticola), Scythian broom (Genista scythica), Odessa milkvetch (Astragalus odessanus), woolly-flowered milkvetch (Astragalus dasyanthus), meadow pasque flower (Pulsatilla pratensis), reticulated saffron (Crocus reticulatus), and others. Additionally, 10 plant species found within the forestry are under special protection in the Mykolaiv region, such as entire-leaved clematis (Clematis integrifolia), salt-tolerant iris (Iris halophila), common joint-fir (Ephedra distachya), and dwarf Russian almond (Prunus tenella).
Furthermore, all the plots are habitats protected under the Bern Convention. All steppe areas within the forestry are planned for inclusion in the proposed “Chychykliyskyi” nature reserve, for which we have already submitted a petition to the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration.
