Modern technologies for forests: Ukraine is expanding its network of seed centers
20 March 21:14
The largest seed center in Ukraine has opened in the Chernihiv region, capable of producing up to 10 million seedlings annually.
The Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine announced the launch of the facility, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The center was established as part of the modernization of the forestry sector and the transition to new forest restoration technologies, which are intended to accelerate forest regeneration following the war.
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Who implemented the project
The project was implemented by the state-owned enterprise Lisy Ukrainy.
According to Minister Oleksiy Sobolev, the development of such centers is part of a systemic reform of forestry.
“The development of a network of seed centers will ensure forest restoration, particularly in de-occupied and affected territories,” the minister noted after visiting the facility.
Currently, there are nine such centers operating in Ukraine.
How the new center will operate
The center will grow seedlings using the closed-root system (CRS)—a modern method widely used in European countries.
The complex includes:
- automated production lines
- greenhouse complexes
- fields for further cultivation
- cold storage rooms for seed storage
The planting material is planned to be used for forest restoration in the northern and southern regions of Ukraine.
Why this is important for forestry
The closed-root system technology has several advantages:
- higher survival rate—approximately 90% better than that of traditional seedlings
- faster growth of young trees
- less planting material needed to create one hectare of forest
- flexible planting times, not limited to a specific season
This allows foresters to restore forest areas more effectively, especially in regions affected by military operations.
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Plans are underway to create a large seed bank
The center also plans to establish a seed bank with a capacity of over 100 million seedlings.
Its goal is to reduce dependence on seed yields in individual years and ensure stable forest restoration.
Infrastructure development for growing planting stock is also underway in other regions.
In particular, in February, in the Poltava region, within the Slobozhanskyi branch of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine,” a fully automated complex for processing cones and seeds of coniferous species was launched.
