Shelterbelts of Life: How one project is helping Ukrainian communities restore their green barriers

What's the problem?

The "green lungs" of Ukraine are being scorched by war. The UWEC Work Group reported, citing the Ukrainian State Forest Resources Agency, that as of June 2024, Russian aggression has caused damage to 708,900 hectares of forests across the country. Of that, 893.9 hectares have been confirmed as destroyed.

The war has also devastated Ukraine's shelterbelts — the lines of trees and bushes designed to protect fields from wind and erosion. Even before the full-scale invasion, these green barriers were in critical condition. Now, those along the front lines have turned to ashes, while others, far from the fighting, are disappearing due to neglect, the natural aging of trees, and uncontrolled logging.

What's the solution?

The loss of shelterbelts isn't just bad for the environment; it's a blow to agriculture. Without these protective strips, soil depletes faster, erosion worsens, and crop yields decrease.

In 2019, the Ukrainian charity foundation "Peli can live" launched an initiative to restore damaged shelterbelts and plant new ones. Today, the Shelterbelts of Life project is more urgent than ever. It's not just about saving what's left but also about restoring what was ravaged by war. This is also a chance to keep Ukraine green and strengthen the country's economic resilience.

How does it work?

"Working on conservation projects means traveling a lot. And the more I observed nature, the more I realized something: the land was there, but there was no room left for wild plants or animals. Agricultural monocultures had swallowed up everything," says Yana Bobrova, co-founder and executive director of the foundation.

Bobrova, an environmental activist, explains that Ukraine's heavily plowed land is also threatening the future of sustainable farmland use. Shelterbelts — those narrow lines of trees along fields — are key to environmentally friendly agriculture. Yet their number and poor condition make them unable to meet the challenges of today's climate and farming.

That's how Shelterbelts of Life was born. The project has three primary goals: raise awareness about the importance of shelterbelts, restore damaged ones by planting resilient, locally adapted trees, and advocate for policy changes to ensure proper protection and management.

This initiative has become a bridge connecting communities, farmers, and scientists, bringing them together to restore Ukraine's natural shields for a more sustainable future.

"Shelterbelts are more than just rows of trees between fields," says Oleksandr Sovakov, a project participant and associate professor at the forest regeneration and land reclamation department at Ukraine's National University of Life and Environmental Sciences. These artificial plantings don't just add beauty to the landscape — they keep our environment healthy by:

• Regulating the microclimate: slowing down the wind, increasing humidity, and protecting the soil from overheating.
• Shielding crops from natural disasters and minimizing damage.
• Providing a home for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, preserving biodiversity.
• Controlling pests and diseases by making agricultural landscapes more resilient.
• Preventing soil erosion, filtering surface runoff, and helping retain moisture in the ground.

Building a strong network of shelterbelts increases the land's environmental and economic value. Studies show these green barriers can boost crop yields by up to 30% — sometimes even more — during drought.

Yet Ukraine has never had enough shelterbelts to protect all farmland from wind and water erosion. Yurii Ivanenko, a project manager at "Peli can live" and a PhD in Biology shares some eye-opening statistics: in 2012, Ukraine had around 446,100 hectares of shelterbelts — just 1.3% of the country's arable land. Research suggests that the number should be at least 3–3.5% to shield fields properly from harsh weather. To hit that target, Ukraine would need to plant another 500,000 hectares.

"Ukraine has no alternative tools to protect its soil, improve the microclimate, or defend fields from dust storms," biologist Yurii Ivanenko explains. "According to the World Bank Group, about 57% of Ukraine's land is under cultivation, compared to just 25% on average in EU countries. Despite having different climates and farming practices, the EU has developed strong shelterbelt systems and promotes agroforestry."

Ivanenko notes that part of the problem is how shelterbelts are perceived in Ukraine. Many farmers see them as "wasted space" — land that could be used to grow more crops. Few are willing to dedicate land or time to maintaining them, mainly for economic reasons.

"It's really about balancing short-term profits with long-term investments and the lasting benefits they bring," says the expert. "Given how much agricultural land Ukraine has, setting aside 3% for protective plantings isn't a huge sacrifice. It's a smart investment in both food security and environmental protection."

For Yana Bobrova, the project's executive director, there's a deeper motivation: "For me, the heart of this project was about reclaiming space for wildlife through shelterbelts. In some regions, up to 80–95% of the land has been plowed under."

Does it really work?

The Shelterbelts of Life project delivered its first results in 2021 when activists restored a shelterbelt in the Pyriatyn community, Poltava region. "Peli can live" collaborated with the Pyriatyn local council and the Pyriatyn National Nature Park to finish the restoration and received financial support from Winner Group Ukraine. The team planted English oak acorns and pear, apple, apricot, cherry, and plum tree saplings. They added shrubs like viburnum, hawthorn, dogwood, and wild rose.

That same year, working with the Tomashivka community and the environmental NGO Ecoaction, the foundation restored another shelterbelt in the Tomashivka area. This time, they used saplings of ash, Norway maple, field maple, sycamore, hornbeam, elm, dogwood, and dog rose, all provided by the Hryshko National Botanical Garden and Syretskyi Arboretum.

With the full-scale invasion, the Shelterbelts of Life project had to pause, but by mid-2024, the team decided it was time to restart.

"We realized that vast areas of farmland had ended up under occupation or were contaminated with explosives. Many of the shelterbelts in these areas had been destroyed by fighting, leaving the land unusable until humanitarian demining could take place. This issue was already urgent before the war — but now, it has become even more critical," says project director Yana Bobrova.

She says another driving factor was the high interest from local communities. Many had neither the skills nor experience to plant shelterbelts themselves and had no access to expert guidance.

Of course, large-scale projects like this require funding. Fortunately, long-time project partner ING Bank Ukraine stepped in to help. Thanks to their support, "Peli can live" continues its social initiatives, including the City of Goodness in Chernivtsi, which Rubryka has also covered before.

"Frankly, given the nature of our work with the bank over the years of full-scale war, I didn't expect them to support a tree-planting project. But it's a very encouraging sign," Bobrova says.

The latest community to join the initiative is Hora, Kyiv region. Local activist Nataliia Kaplia was the driving force behind the project there, rallying the community around the cause.

In the fall of 2024, the foundation's team, researchers from the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences, locals, and volunteers came together to plant a 1.2-kilometer, three-row protective shelterbelt. The saplings arrived from the university's forestry nursery, Syretskyi Dendropark, Kyiv Garden Plant Nursery, and the Hryshko National Botanical Garden. Supported by the Hora village council and local farmers, the project planted 2,200 plants from 11 species in three days.

According to "Peli can live," the Hora community shelterbelt is the first planted in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war — a milestone that has deeply motivated everyone involved.

"The last time our community planted shelterbelts was back in the 1950s. We hope this one will inspire large-scale greening in the community. And the fact that we're doing this during a full-scale invasion? It gives us hope for victory," says activist Nataliia Kaplia.

She adds that the community and "Peli can live" are already planning another shelterbelt for the other side of the road this spring.

The project hasn't forgotten the original shelterbelts in Pyriatyn and Tomashivka, planted nearly four years ago. In July 2024, Shelterbelts of Life experts and staff from Pyriatyn National Park inspected the site — and the news was good. Even though the war made maintenance difficult, most young oaks survived.

However, the outermost section of the shelterbelt is struggling. The acorns there have only begun sprouting and compete with dry brush and weeds. To help, the team has provided extra care throughout the growing season — thinning out plants, marking young oaks, clearing the grass around them, fertilizing, and watering.

Even more helpful solutions!

This spring, the Shelterbelts of Life project plans to begin restoring green barriers in three more communities and on the land of one farm.

Creating and maintaining shelterbelts is a long-term effort that demands patience and hard work. Yet, as the project team stresses, this is an essential investment in Ukraine's future. For restoration efforts to be truly effective, however, the direct involvement of state authorities is crucial.

Building and maintaining shelterbelts is no small feat — it's a long-term commitment that demands patience and hard work. Yet, as the project team reminds us, it's an investment in the future of Ukraine's land and people. However, the authorities need to contribute to making this work truly sustainable.

For instance, many guidelines used today for planting protective tree belts date back to the mid-20th century. Unsurprisingly, they don't reflect the modern realities of Ukraine's environmental challenges. Expert Yurii Ivanenko says that outdated legal and regulatory frameworks make managing and preserving these green shields hard.

"While we have many government initiatives on the local level in Ukraine, we still lack a national program for shelterbelt restoration. Such a program would secure the funding needed for large-scale action, legalize the process, encourage partnerships with both the government and businesses, and establish clear procedures for planting and maintenance," Ivanenko explains.

Becoming part of the Shelterbelts of Life project is simple. The journey begins when the project team announces a call for applications from communities or stakeholders, spreading the word mainly through the project's Facebook page and the foundation's Instagram.

Once applications are in, the team conducts interviews and selects communities ready to take on the challenge. Then, they work together to identify suitable plots for planting. Expert scientists inspect these areas and give tailored advice on preparing the land, giving the community homework to complete before planting.

While the community prepares the soil, the project team sources the right trees and shrubs, focusing on regionally adapted species that are naturally suited to thrive in local conditions.

In 2024, the project introduced a new requirement: participants must sign a memorandum pledging to care for the shelterbelt for at least seven years until the trees grow into the stage of crown closure — when the branches of trees start to touch or overlap and form a canopy. This means watering, weeding, loosening the soil, adding fertilizer if needed, and replacing trees that don't survive.

But the support doesn't end there. The project team continues to provide guidance, monitor progress, and offer expert advice every step of the way.

"On one hand, this helps communities make better decisions; on the other, it ensures the long-term success of our work. The support from volunteers and local partners keeps us going," says Yana Bobrova.

The project is open to partnerships. Volunteers are always welcome at events — for example, UAnimals volunteers helped plant trees in the Hora community. Be ready for hands-on physical effort; restoring nature isn't easy.

As of fall 2024, the cost of planting a tree (including organization, tools, and community needs) was around UAH 200 (about $5) per tree. Donations are welcome here to support the spring planting season.

Companies can also partner with the project. If you're interested in becoming a donor, the team is happy to meet and discuss ways to collaborate. Email them.

"This project is our personal contribution to preserving the environment," says Yana Bobrova. "We want to spread our mission and inspire others to take part in this important cause. Restoring shelterbelts in Ukraine might seem daunting, but the problems caused by their absence won't disappear on their own."

"Someone has to start. We can't ignore these issues when we have the tools to make a difference."

The team hopes that, like many others, their initiative will spark a larger wave of positive change across the country.