The Carpathian forests are a recreational resource that offers us outdoor recreation, educational experiences and the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the world of biodiversity. Spruce forests provide us with peace and harmony, as well as the opportunity to spend active time and enjoy beautiful scenery.
A natural oasis of peace and harmony
The Carpathian forests are a real natural oasis where you can find peace and harmony. A walk under the dense forest cover gives you the opportunity to plunge into the world of nature, feel the calm atmosphere and enjoy the rustle of leaves under your feet. Vacationing in the Carpathian forests will take you to a completely different world, where time stands still and you can enjoy the moment.
Huge biodiversity and ecosystems
The Carpathian forests are famous for their great biodiversity. Here you can find a variety of flora and fauna. The Carpathian ecosystems are home to many species of rare and protected plants and animals. Every step in these forests opens up new sights, colors and smells, filling your senses with unique experiences.
Outdoor activities and entertainment
The Carpathian forests are an ideal place for outdoor activities and entertainment. You can go for a hike or a bike ride, enjoying the clean air and beautiful scenery. The forests offer a large number of routes for different levels of physical fitness, allowing everyone to find something to their liking.
Conservation of natural resources and environmental education
An important aspect of the Carpathian forests is their role in natural resource conservation and environmental education. Forests play an important role in maintaining the balance of nature, preserving water resources and protecting biodiversity. Traveling through the Carpathian forests, you get not only the pleasure of nature, but also the opportunity to learn and understand the importance of ecological balance.
The Carpathian forest is a real treasure trove of natural gifts. It gives us the opportunity to enjoy the incredible beauty and diversity of nature. Resting in these forests gives us peace and harmony, a sense of unity with nature and a reboot of the soul. The Carpathian forests generously give us delicious berries, which are a real storehouse of vitamins and nutrients. Lingonberries, raspberries, rowan berries and others are not only flavorful delicacies, but also a natural complex of important substances for our body. They strengthen our immune system, provide energy and contribute to our overall health.
The Carpathian forests are a real pharmaceutical treasure trove. A variety of medicinal plants used in digestive medicine grow here. For example, rose hips are high in vitamin C and beneficial antioxidants that strengthen our immune system. Blueberries have powerful antioxidant properties and help maintain visual acuity. These medicinal plants provide us with natural remedies to maintain our health and longevity.
The gifts of the Carpathian forest are a real wealth for our health, beauty and spiritual development. Each of us has the opportunity to enjoy these natural treasures, enriching our lives with emotions, flavors and nutrients. Feel the magic of the Carpathian forest, protect nature and allow yourself to enjoy its benefits
The Carpathians are an unsurpassed natural recreational resource. They belong to the mountain-forest ecosystems, which cover only 6% of Ukraine’s territory. This region is the birthplace of three-quarters of Europe’s major rivers, such as the Dniester, Prut, and Tisza. The most valuable natural resource of the Carpathians is their forests, which are important as climate regulators, water protection systems, and places of recreation, tourism, and health improvement.
The Carpathians are rich in vegetation with various green treasures. The flora of higher plants alone includes more than two thousand species, and vascular flowering plants – trees, shrubs and grasses – account for more than 1,500 species. They are natural resources of food, medicinal and technical raw materials. About 350 species of wild plants have medicinal value and are widely used in folk medicine (more than 200 of them are officially recognized as medicine). About 20 species of plants contain tannins, and 18 species contain dyes.
The Carpathian forests are also famous for their plants with beautiful flowers. Among them, you can find snow-white snowdrops, blue snowdrops, white and yellow anemones, purple liverworts and saffron, and fragrant lilies of the valley. Many plants produce delicious fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, lingonberries, raspberries, blackberries, and others. Rose hips, rowan, red viburnum, and others are important sources of medicinal and nutritional value.
There are various types of forests in the Carpathians: oak, beech, fir, spruce, mixed oak, beech and fir forests, as well as hornbeam, birch, aspen, alder and other forests. Each of these forests has its own appeal.
The Carpathian forests are characterized by high productivity. The annual accumulation of biomass of wood and branches (excluding the root system, undergrowth, undergrowth and grass cover) ranges from 5.8 to 8.2 m3/ha for different tree species. The forest plantations of the Carpathians absorb about 12.8 million tons of carbon dioxide and release 9.8 million tons of oxygen annually. On average, 1 hectare of forest absorbs 8 tons of carbon dioxide and releases 6.1 tons of oxygen per year.
The biological activity of oxygen depends on its degree of ionization. Increased air ionization helps to improve the function of respiratory enzymes, relieve fatigue, improve well-being, and can help treat diseases such as bronchial asthma, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and pulmonary tuberculosis. In forest air, the amount of ionized oxygen is 2-3 times higher than in sea air and 8-10 times higher than in the air of industrial cities. For example, 1 cubic centimeter of forest air can contain 2-3 thousand light ions, while in the air of large industrial cities this number is 220-400, and in closed rooms – only 25-100. The presence of light ions with a negative charge is considered an indicator of air purity and freshness.
Trees that ionize the air especially well include fir, larch, birch, common and red oak, mountain ash, and others. Pine forests have twice the oxygen ionization of deciduous forests. The high oxygen productivity of the Carpathian forests is important: the oxygen released by vegetation is carried by the wind over long distances, improving the air quality in industrial cities.
In the Carpathians, there are pure and mixed forests: oak, beech, fir, spruce, oak-beech-fir, beech-fir-spruce, as well as hornbeam, birch, aspen, alder, and others. Each forest has its own appeal and uniqueness.
The Carpathian forest is a real treasure trove of natural beauty and diversity. Its aesthetic appeal is of great importance to us, enriching our perception of the world.
The Carpathian forests are truly rich in wildlife. There are 435 species of vertebrates found here. Different classes of animals are widely represented in the Carpathian forests, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Mammals and birds are a special decoration of these forests. The Carpathians have 74 species of mammals, which is almost 77% of the total mammalian composition in Ukraine. Among them are cloven-hoofed mammals, insectivores, rodents, bats, and predators.
The Ukrainian Carpathians are rich in recreational resources. Forests with mineral springs are an important component of these resources. This contributes to the development of various types and forms of recreation for people. Medical, health, sports and tourism, utilitarian, and cognitive recreation are widespread in the Carpathians.
In Ivano-Frankivsk region, climatic sanatorium and resort complexes in Yaremche, Vorokhta, Kosiv, and the balneological mud resort of Cherche are particularly important. There are also climate sanatoriums in Chernivtsi region. These sanatoriums and resorts provide treatment for more than 700,000 people annually. Therapeutic recreation is usually carried out in stationary and long-term forms.
Health-improving recreation is also of great importance and is based on the use of the medicinal properties of forests. Its goal is to restore people’s working capacity and relieve physical and nervous tension. Health recreation can be carried out in both stationary and non-stationary forms.
For inpatient recreation in the Carpathians, there are about 30 sanatoriums and health centers, more than 50 recreation centers and rest homes, 75 children’s camps and other facilities located in or near forests. These facilities provide an opportunity to improve the health of more than 100 thousand people annually.
Utilitarian recreation is also important and consists of the unmanaged collection of mushrooms, wild berries, nuts, medicinal plants and flowers in forests. This type of recreation covers almost all forests, from foothill to mountainous areas. During the season of ripening berries, nuts and mushrooms, tens of thousands of towns and villages go to the forests, often at considerable distances from settlements.
The Carpathian forests have great potential for recreation and leisure, and their natural resources attract many visitors. This is a unique region where you can enjoy nature, restore your health and fill your soul with unique impressions.