European ministers responsible for forests and observers of the "FOREST EUROPE" process expressed their readiness to support Ukraine in post-war reconstruction and implementation of the necessary reforms in the forest sector.
They signed a joint decision "Supporting the restoration and sustainable management of Ukrainian forests and the forest sector", reports Ministry of Environment.
The document envisages financial support for the post-war restoration of Ukraine's forests and the involvement of such international organizations as UNECE, FAO or UNEP.
The article noted that this process of European support was initiated by the Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture of Germany, Cem Ozdemir.
He noted that кussia's actions contradict international law and leave behind only traces of destruction, and Europe is unconditionally in solidarity with Ukraine.
The project of a strategic document on supporting the restoration and sustainable management of Ukrainian forests and the forest sector will be developed by the Secretariat of the "Forests of Europe" process in Bonn.
Also during the meeting, experts of the "FOREST EUROPE" process supported the road map of further steps. During the next 6 months, recommendations will be prepared for the restoration of forestry and assistance will be provided for the implementation of the priority tasks identified by the Ukrainian side.
"For Ukraine, this is a powerful signal of solidarity. We are extremely grateful for this proposal from the Government of Germany as the country presiding over the FOREST EUROPE process, and the coordinating countries Turkey, Slovakia and Sweden. I am convinced that further cooperation will help Ukraine in the post-war reconstruction of forestry for conservation, restoration and sustainable management of forests. I am sure that powerful joint projects on post-war forest restoration await us ahead of us," said Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources on issues of digital development, digital transformations and digitization Serhii Vlasenko, who participated in the event.
Among European countries, Ukraine ranks ninth in the area of forests. However, in half a year, about 30% of Ukrainian forests were damaged by military actions. Currently, about 600,000 hectares of forests are occupied.
As EcoPolitic reported before, Ukraine for the last 3 months increased the level of fulfillment of European integration obligations in the environmental sphere from 61% to about 63%, and in 2 years this indicator will be able to reach 75%.
