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Elaboration and adoption of the "Concept for the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Ukraine" were caused by the need to define the strategic goals and objectives, methodological, methodical, organizational principles and techniques for conservation of forest genetic resources in Ukraine on a nationwide scale. The development of the Concept aims at providing stable functioning of forest ecosystems today and in the future, preserving the potential of forests for producing of their unique set of economic, environmental and social benefits. The use of the document will serve as the basis for developing of new and improving the existing legislative, departmental and administrative regulations that provide different aspects of biodiversity conservation in forests -programs, regulations, guidelines, directives, recommendations, etc. In the Concept, which is developed in Ukraine for the first time, characterized are the topicality and the necessity for conservation of forest genetic resources, the classification of factors that endanger the genetic diversity of forest tree species is described, legal basis of the process for conserving forest genetic resources is analyzed, the methods and strategy of genetic variability of forest tree species conservation are reported, attention was paid to the benefits from sustainable use of forest genetic resources, also here were indicated the necessity of scientific support of this process and outlined ways of implementing this concept.

This paper presents the results of investigations on natural forest regeneration in Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) monocultures in the Ukrainian Beskids with the use of FORKOME model prognostic possibilities. Different variants of regeneration methods are presented. Selective cutting with planting was determined as the most effective: spruce selective cutting with simultaneous planting of target species: beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and fir (Abies alba Mill.) with admixture of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.). Beech and fir biomass increases rapidly over the first 20 years -then it stabilizes. After another 20-30 years the initial form of beech forest is recognizable and it is possible to speak about an increase of beech forest, which in the course of time achieves a higher degree of similarity to natural stand. In the Ukrainian Beskids the potential forest stand consists of beech and fir (Dentario glandulosae-Fagetum).

According to the age classes, middle-aged forest stands predominate in the mountan forests of the Carpathians (46.2), overmature stands occupy 6.9% (62 thousand ha). According to the recent inventory, about 85 thousand hectares of climax old-growth forests are identified, including climax virgin forests that occupy about 54 thousand hectares which are uneven-aged. For their identification, a population matrix with a division into age groups is suggested, taking into account the age condition of the edificator. There are 6 age groups: pre-generative -juvenile-immature, virginal; generative -young generative, middleaged, mature and old generative. In terms of the number of uneven-aged beech and coniferous/beech stands, the adequate cenopopulations of beech is dominated. The age spectra of fir and spruce, sycamore maple, ash-tree are generally non-stabilized or fragmentary. On average, on 1 ha of elementary demographic cenopopulation of beech and coniferous/beech stands on the generative generation there are 174-235 beech individuals, 42-52 -fir, 5-16 -spruce, 5-10 -sycamore and ash-tree, respectively.Half of the timber stock (50-60%) is over-mature, and 25% is in mature age condition. In climax cenosis, it can be recommended to conduct a uniform or non-uniform selection felling system. Introduction of population paradigm in forest synecology opens up a new opportunity to divide stands into age generations and treat them as a set of cenopopulations of key species for old-growth forests and virgin forests.

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