Ukrainian forests cover an area of more than 10 million hectares, which is equal to the size of Iceland. They play an important role in the country’s economy, providing raw materials for the woodworking industry, fuel and other products, and most importantly, maintaining the ecological balance. In recent years, Ukraine has been implementing forestry reforms aimed at improving forest management, combating illegal logging and developing the timber market. At the same time, Ukrainian forests and agricultural land are suffering from significant losses due to the military operations. Tens of thousands of hectares of forests have been destroyed, mined or contaminated as a result of shelling and hostilities.
In such circumstances, international support becomes very important. Germany is one of Ukraine’s main partners in environmental restoration. The Ministry of Environmental Protection held an important meeting between Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Serhiy Vlasenko and Agricultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Ansgar Aschfalk.
The main topic of discussion was the coordination of joint Ukrainian-German projects in the field of forestry, as well as further steps to reform Ukraine’s forestry sector in line with European standards.
Two key projects are currently being implemented in Ukraine with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL):
- ‘Strengthening Forest Management Planning for More Effective Timber Use in the Context of the War in Ukraine through the Reinstatement of the Ukrainian State Forestry Project Association’, which ends in 2025.
- Three-year project ‘Promoting the planning and implementation of multifunctional sustainable forest management in Ukraine’.
The meeting stressed the need to synchronise these projects to effectively continue their work. Representatives of both countries stressed the importance of improving national forest policy and reforming forest management in Ukraine. Special attention was paid to the development of the Ukrderzhlisproject, which plays a key role in planning and building a sustainable forestry sector in Ukraine.
The meeting participants discussed the implementation of the main measures of the operational plan for the implementation of the State Forest Management Strategy of Ukraine until 2035. One of the most important issues was mine clearance. In total, more than 0.5 million hectares of forest areas need demining, and although 75.3 thousand hectares have already been surveyed, this is only the beginning of the journey. In 2024, we managed to clear another 2 thousand hectares. To make the process safer, foresters prioritise areas of the highest economic, social and environmental importance. Currently, about 7.5 thousand hectares of forests have been identified for demining. German assistance will make this process faster and safer.
In addition to the environmental front, reforms in the timber trade are ongoing. The Verkhovna Rada has already adopted in the first reading the draft law ‘On the Timber Market’, which should regulate all sales and purchase processes and ensure transparency in this sector. Ukrainian forestry companies are already working under the new rules, focusing on EU standards.
Today, international support is not just diplomacy, but concrete actions that help Ukraine preserve its forests and create a solid foundation for their sustainable development. The parties agreed to continue their cooperation and hold additional meetings to agree on future reforms and implement joint initiatives.
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine
