On 13.10.2025 the State Forest Resources Agency, with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, supported by the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Environmental Policy and Nature Management organized an online coordination meeting with the representatives of international donor projects related to the forest protection and development of forestry and forest resource of Ukraine. The objective of this meeting was to update international donors about current needs in Ukraine as well as to coordinate project activities in order to avoid overlapping and potentially find out synergies. All together representatives of 10 international projects gave an overview about their objectives, current project activities respectively their achievements. The meeting was joined by more than 50 national and international forest experts.

“We aim to make this process transparent, open and understandable, avoid duplication of topics and strengthen the coordination of our projects.”, explained the meeting moderator, Head of the International Relations, Science and Public Relations Sector of the State Forest Resources Agency, Mariana Ostrovska. She referred to the following priorities of Ukraine’s forestry sector:

  • Implementation of close-to-nature forest management methods;
  • digitalization of management processes;
  • corporatization of the State Enterprise ‘Forests of Ukraine’;
  • implementation of Ukrainian legislation in line with European legislation, most actual the requirements of the EUDR;
  • demining and restoration of war-damaged forests;
  • training capacities for operators of modern forestry machines – harvesters and forwarders as well as specialized forestry laboratory resources;
  • support further development of the GIS supported stand wise forestry database (so called State Forest Cadaster).

With regard to SFI-Project the following projects needs to be approached as to coordinate project activities to find out in more details about synergies respectively overlapping:

  • FAO Project GCP/UKR/021/EC (EU-funded, runs until 01-2026) with regard to:
    • Elaboration of a glossary of EU forest acquis terms and definitions
    • Translation of EU regulations related to forestry and forest protection
    • Review of the Forest Code of Ukraine in light of EU requirements
    • Develop Multi-purpose Forest Management Planning (until 09-2026)
  • Finland: Sustainable raw material supply for forest -based energy in Ukraine (2026-2028) with regard to:
    • Enhance raw material supply for forest-based energy production
  • Sweden: ForUkraine (09-2025 until 2027) with regard to:
    • EU Policy Integration in Ukraine’s forest sector.
  • World Bank: EU4Environment (runs until 08-2026) with regard to:
    • Community engagement on forests and other natural resources management
    • Supporting targeted communities with regard to natural resource management
  • Czech Republic: Strengthening the forest monitoring capacity of Ukraine for EU Compliance (runs until 03-2026) with regard to:
    • RS-Classification of tree species and trends of forest health status in a pilot area (Kalush district 2022)

The representative of EU COM informed about the EU consultancy activities related mainly to agriculture, but also addressing forestry policy issues. The recent IPRSA project was closed in 06-2025, whereas a follow up project “Support to align Ukrainian legislation, policies and institutions with EU acquis in agriculture and rural development (IPRSA III)” will start on 11/2025 and last for next 40 months.

As a conclusion SFI-Project plans will be adjusted and a new workplan presented to the Project Steering Group meeting, expected to be help in spring 2026.

Volker Sasse and Syman Jurk presented the SFI-Project based on the publications on the SFI-Website (sfi-ukraine.org.ua/en). Sasse welcomed the initiative by SFRA and the support provided by the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Environmental Policy and Nature Management. “Coordination is very important to find out potential synergies and to avoid double work. Projects should share their activities objectives and achievements publicly in order to strengthen trust in the efficiency and meaningfulness of international project work. I am indeed grateful for the initiative and hope such meetings will be established from now on a regular basis.” , said Sasse. Further he proposed to establish a depository of basic information on the international donor projects (budget, period, objectives, achievements, website with contacts) under the SFRA website.

‘We sincerely thank all international organisations, donors and experts who are implementing forestry projects for the benefit of the Ukrainian forestry sector. Your support, knowledge and solidarity are not just a form of assistance, but a manifestation of true partnership that helps us preserve and restore our forests,” concluded Mariana Ostrovska.