Page 76 - NZDPM 33/2017

НАУКОВІ ЗАПИСКИ ДЕРЖАВНОГО ПРИРОДОЗНАВЧОГО МУЗЕЮ
Випуск 33 Львів, 2017 С. 75-80

УДК 591.5:598.244]:911.5(477.41/.42)

Strus Iu., Bokotey A., Dzubenko N.

DETECTION OF FOREST LOSS ON BLACK STORK (CICONIA NIGRA L.)
BREEDING SITES IN THE RIVNE REGION (POLISSIA) BY A GIS ANALYSIS

The study aims to assess the scale of forest loss (mostly caused by logging) on breeding
sites of the local Black Stork breeding population in the Rivne region of Ukraine, within the
Polissia nature zone. The study is based on a GIS analysis of the Global Forest Watch data in
intersection of circular buffers of different sizes around 141 Black Stork nests.
Forest logging was detected on 38,3% of breeding sites in the region, in 100 m buffers
around nests. On more than 14% of breeding territories (in 100 m buffers) forest loss
exceeded 20% of the total forest area. Therefore, logging is one of the major threats for the
local Black Stork population. The method used for the forest loss detection by a GIS analysis
seems to be effective for the search of territories with the violation of protection regime for
rare birds when resources are limited.
Keywords: Black Stork, Ciconia nigra, logging, threats, GIS.

Introduction

One of the main reasons behind Black Stork rarity in Europe is degradation of forest
habitats because of the intensive logging [2, 3, 5]. Continuous logging makes forests
younger and forest stands more age-homogeneous. In Ukraine, Black Storks usually inhabit
forest plots with the highest productivity, with old and thick trees, often with prevalence of
oaks which have the highest commercial value for the industry (Bokotey et al., this issue).
This creates risks not only for Black Stork habitats but also for individual nests to be cut
down. Ukrainian legislation forbids any harmful activity in relation to animals listed in the
national Red Book (e.g. Black Stork) but the control of the law compliance is not effective.
We know quite many cases when Black Stork nests were cut down by forestry workers.
Sometimes, these were even inhabited nests during a breeding season.
Even when logging activities are conducted at some distance from a nest it creates
additional stress for nesting of Black Storks as species very sensitive to disturbance. Our
study aims to estimate the scale of forest loss (logging) on breeding sites of the local Black
Stork population in the region with the highest in Ukraine breeding density [4] of the
species and to test the possibility of a distant detection of forest loss on Black Stork
breeding sites.

Materials and methods

In this study we use the information about exact locations of 141 Black Stork nests
recorded by GPS navigators (Garmin eTrex). All the nests are located within the Rivne
region of Ukraine in the Polissia nature zone (forest zone). Data from other regions of the
country was not used in the analysis. Nest locations were discovered within the scope of the
"Ciconia Ukraina" project.
Current analysis of the forest loss on breeding territories of Black Storks is based on the
Global Forest Watch (GFW) data [1] derived from a classification of satellite imagery. The