Ministerial Decree No. 557 regarding validation of the regulation on the modalities of classification of forests by groups, by categories of protection and selection of especially protected plots of forest land.

The present Regulation establishes common rules of classification of forests by groups, by categories of protection and selection of especially protected plots of forest land. The forests of Ukraine shall be sub-divided by ecological and economic requirements into the first group and other groups. Forests carrying out important environment protection functions as well as forests of protected areas, forests of scientific or historical importance (including genetic reserves), forest fruit plantations, subalpine trees and bush plantations shall be classified as first group forests. Forests that are not classified as first group forests, forests meeting ecological requirements and forests destined for timber extraction shall be classified as other group forest. Regime of restricted forest management shall be applied to this group of forests for the purpose of conservation of protective functions, continuity and inexhaustibility of forest management. The document consists of 4 Sections. Section 1 lays down general provisions. Section 2 regards offences and examination of applications as regards classification of forests by groups, by categories of protection and selection of especially protected plots of forest land. Section 3 establishes the conditions for the classification of forests by groups, by categories of protection and selection of especially protected plots of forest land. Section 4 regards especially protected plots of forest land.