STRUCTURE AND WAYS OF IMPROVING FORAGE LANDS OF WILD UNGULATES UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF SE «VINNYTSIA FOREST RESEARCH STATION»

This study examines the present condition of feeding grounds for wild ungulates and provides rationale for their enhancement within the SE «Vinnytsia Forest Research Station». The importance of this research stems from the necessity to guarantee a reliable forage base for game animals given seasonal food shortages, forest ecosystem shifts, and environmental stress from climate and human activity. The study aimed to assess the efficiency of current forage sites, determine their site quality (bonitet), estimate optimal carrying capacity for main ungulate species, and propose measures for optimizing supplementary feeding practices. The research was conducted using forest management records, wildlife management data, stand inventory descriptions, forest maps, GIS and stand-level databases, along with the enterprise development project. Hunting areas were categorized into types, subtypes, and species-specific classes; site quality (bonitet) was assessed for Capreolus capreolus and Sus scrofa, and the optimal density and game population numbers were established. The total forest land area of the study site was found to be 2.045.9 ha, with 1.856.4 ha covered by forest vegetation. For Capreolus capreolus, the mean bonitet class across coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests was 2.47, 2.15, and 2.18, respectively; for Sus scrofa, the values were 2.83, 2.76, and 2.57. Meadows and water bodies exhibited the lowest forage suitability, underscoring the need for targeted habitat management, including overseeding legumes, establishing game remises for feed and shelter, and installing biotechnical structures. The current wild population stands at 95 Capreolus capreolus and 86 Sus scrofa, requiring integration into feed provisioning strategies and population control planning. Recommended guidelines for forage harvesting were formulated based on anticipated population growth and seasonal feeding requirements. The practical relevance of the findings is rooted in their application for optimizing wildlife management practices, boosting habitat productivity, and implementing science-backed management of wild ungulates.