Ivaniuk I. Oak Stands of the Right-Bank Polissia of Ukraine and their Forest-Ecological Potential

The dissertation is devoted to the research of the bases of growth, development, reproduction and stability of oak stands of the Right Bank Polissia of Ukraine. Their pathological condition and bioproductivity were analyzed. The potential possibilities of plantations with the participation of oak in the composition for the preservation and restoration of biodiversity of phytocenoses and ecological parameters of habitats, the expansion of their resource potential were estimated. The structure of the modern forest fund of the Right-Bank Polissia contains 198.2 thousand hectares of plantations with the participation of oak, as the main species, in the composition. The oak mainly forms medium-full mixed plantations with the participation of 3 to 9 units in the composition, pure oak trees make up only 6.9 % of the area. Dynamic plant communities with forest remnants and a significant participation of light-loving ruderal and meadow species are formed in wet and fresh soils of the study region within 1–3 years after continuous felling. After closing the crowns of young stands, the floristic composition and coenotic structure of phytocenoses are gradually restored. The area of established centers of oak diseases reached 4784.0 ha in the peak year of 2014, which is 2.4 % of the total and indicates the insignificant influence of these centers on the total productivity of oak plantations. Analysis of absolute values and indices of radial growth of oak trees in fresh and wet soils indicates a significant influence of external factors (climatic, soilhydrological, biotic and man-made), the most significant of which are fluctuations in climatic indicators of the study region. Carbon density in oak stands ranges from 8.0 kg/(m2)-1 (Volyn region) to 10.5 kg/(m2)-1 (Rivne region), which significantly exceeds similar indicators of softwood and coniferous tree species. The results of the research allowed to formulate and develop a vector of forestry development in the forests of the region, which is aimed at wider use of oak in the stands’ formation, taking into account its forest-ecological potential.