The government appointed Viktor Smal as the head of the State Forest Resources Agency

The government appointed Viktor Smal as the head of the State Forest Resources Agency
Katerina Belousova

Smal temporarily performed the duties of the head of the State Forestry Agency from May 2023

The Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday, December 19, appointed Viktor Smal as head of the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine.

Prior to that, he served as Deputy Head of the State Forestry Agency for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization, the government's representative in the Verkhovna Rada, Taras Melnychuk, said on Telegram.

As you know, Smal temporarily acted as the head of the State Forestry Agency after Yuriy Bolokhovets resigned in May 2023.

Previously, Smal worked as:

  • from August 2021 – deputy head of the State Forestry Agency for digital development, digital transformations and digitalization;
  • 2013-2020 – own business in the field of information technologies and online commerce, in particular, created a network of online stores for sports equipment, founded and developed an IT agency based in offices in two cities, which specialized in the development of unique digital solutions for corporate clients, created an online auction for the sale of raw wood for exchange trading in the regions of Ukraine and the first geolocation search messenger GLOICE for mobile phones;
  • 2007-2013 – various positions in international companies;
  • 2006 – assistant consultant to the People's Deputy of Ukraine.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed Mykhailo Yanchuk as the new head of the State Water Resources Agency of Ukraine (State Water Agency). It is expected that he will reboot and activate the work of the department.

Related
Ukraine will bring together scientists in a newly created Scientific and Expert Council on Climate Change
Ukraine will bring together scientists in a newly created Scientific and Expert Council on Climate Change

The new body will theoretically operate independently and provide scientific justification for the formation of the state's climate policy

Quietly and under the cover of war: the government may cancel environmental impact assessments for logging
Quietly and under the cover of war: the government may cancel environmental impact assessments for logging

The EIA curbs the appetites of foresters and enables the public to monitor whether trees really need to be cut down

New requirements for return water as a trap: the government has set businesses an impossible task
New requirements for return water as a trap: the government has set businesses an impossible task

Experts urge businesses to demand clear protocols and methodologies that can truly assess water quality

The government has extended the ban on timber exports until the end of 2026
The government has extended the ban on timber exports until the end of 2026

This is an effort to support Ukrainian production and reduce pressure on the environment