ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR EASTERN EUROPEAN FORESTS IN MID-LATITUDE ZONE

The article considers the main challenges facing the forest sector of European part of Mid-Latitude zone in connection with climate change. The main aim was to systematize available scientific information on climate change influence on forests in the research region. The methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization of available scientific information were applied. Environmental results of climate changeimpact on forests are represented by future worsening stability and sanitary state of forest stands of Ukraine's main forest-forming tree species. This becomes more and more noticeable for Scots pine dominated stands across Ukraine, and the future for forests composed by other tree species is no longer optimistic in the long run. It is stated that the changing environment will lead to alteration of growth, productivity and bioproductivity of Ukrainian forests, and, consequently,to the necessity to rethink approaches to selection of tree species, forest caring and growing, assessment of ecosystem functions and so on. Economic consequences of climate change for forestry will manifest themselves in the loss of resources, loss of income, as well as expenditures for implementing environmental stabilizing measures. The attention is drawn to significant volumes of normative and information support as well as unique empirical data accumulated in Ukraine during a prolonged period of forest management, forest science and practice. Those are actively used to describe dynamics of various characteristics of forest ecosystems within scientific research, management planning and forest industry.The importance of improving the information support of the forestry sector is emphasized, which will ensure the possibility of forecasting the state of forests under climate change conditions and making sound managerial decisions, and possible pathways for this are highlighted. Characterized are necessary prerequisites and possible ways of transition to the paradigm of sustainable development on the basis of risk-resilient forest management in Ukraine and in geographically greater region.