Ukraine is implementing a forestry initiative aimed at combating land degradation and climate change. The Ministry of Economy’s partner in this project will be the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with support provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project’s estimated budget is $5.4 million.
This was reported by the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture.
The project is primarily aimed at restoring Ukraine’s forest landscapes. It will cover the following areas:
- development of forest and agroforestry systems;
- restoration of ecosystem services;
- implementation of sustainable natural resource management practices.
The urgency of the problem
The full-scale invasion by the Russian Federation has caused immense damage to Ukraine's forests. Fires, shelling, contamination with explosives and chemicals have already resulted in damage or degradation of 2.9 million hectares of forests.
The management of forestry and ecosystem monitoring is further complicated by the lack of access to significant forested areas due to active hostilities and temporary occupation.
“Restoring forest landscapes is not just a response to the destruction caused by the war, but also a strategic investment in the country’s future. For us, this is a priority task that combines ecological recovery with strengthening the resilience of rural communities. Such initiatives lay the groundwork for the development of a modern, efficient, and sustainable forestry sector in Ukraine,” said Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The new initiative will take into account the experience of FAO and GEF cooperation in Ukraine. From 2017 to 2023, a program was implemented that helped introduce sustainable forest management practices on nearly 250,000 hectares of land.
EcoPolitic previously reported that due to offenses committed by officials in the forestry sector, the state incurred damages amounting to 546 million UAH in 2025 alone.
Only recently, the prosecutor’s office filed a lawsuit against SE 'Forests of Ukraine' seeking compensation of 386 million UAH for large-scale logging in the Carpathians, particularly within the Hutsulshchyna National Park.
