Forests in Belarus are protected as vital, living ecosystems

Belarus’s forests now cover nearly 10 million hectares, up about one million hectares over 30 years, and UNDP and national authorities say they provide carbon storage, biodiversity habitat and local economic benefits. Officials report rising threats from climate-linked fires and pests and note recent steps to update forest management approaches and adopt a national biodiversity strategy.

Forests in Belarus are described as complex, self-regulating ecosystems with roles that extend beyond timber production. They are reported to store carbon, regulate water, protect soils and support thousands of plant and animal species. Officials and UNDP highlight economic connections through forestry jobs and non-timber products, and they note growing climate-related pressures on these ecosystems. Key facts: - Forest area is reported at nearly 10 million hectares and has increased by roughly one million hectares over the past 30 years. - UNDP and Belarusian authorities say forests help with carbon storage, water regulation and biodiversity, and support about 40,000 jobs; wood products were cited as accounting for 8.4 percent of exports, with berries, mushrooms and medicinal plants as notable non-timber products. - Since the start of the 2025 fire season, officials report more than 700 fires affecting over 1,200 hectares, and coniferous stands are identified as especially vulnerable. - Forest pests such as bark beetles and sawflies are reported to have increased in recent years, a trend linked by experts to warming and reduced ecosystem resilience. - In 2025, proposals were prepared on using digital technologies for inventory, protection and fire management, and in February 2026 a national strategy and action plan for biodiversity conservation were adopted with UN support. - New projects include UNDP-led fire preparedness work financed under South–South cooperation with China and an ecotourism development project supported by the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Summary: Belarus’s expanding forest area is presented as an environmental and economic asset, but officials and UN partners report heightened risks from fires and pests tied to climate change. Authorities and UNDP have prepared technical proposals, adopted a national biodiversity strategy in February 2026, and launched projects aimed at fire preparedness and ecotourism development. Continued cooperation among international, national and local partners is presented as the current path for managing impacts and conserving forests.