Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture in synergy with FAO launch reforestation project

The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is launching a new initiative aimed at restoring forest landscapes. The project involves the development of forest and agroforestry systems, the restoration of ecosystem services, and the implementation of sustainable natural resource management practices. Its goal is to combat land degradation and enhance climate resilience. The initiative is being implemented with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The initiative’s projected budget is USD 5.4 million.

As part of the project’s launch, a kick-off workshop was held in Kyiv with the participation of representatives from government agencies, the expert community, and international partners. The key focus is on developing a systematic approach to the development of the forestry sector.

According to experts’ estimates, approximately 2.9 million hectares of forest areas have been damaged or degraded as a result of fires, shelling, contamination with explosive ordnance, and chemical contamination. A significant portion of these areas remains inaccessible, which significantly complicates forest management and the implementation of comprehensive monitoring of ecosystem integrity.

The consequences of this destruction extend far beyond the forestry sector—they directly impact biodiversity, water resources, agriculture, and communities’ well-being.

“Restoring forest landscapes is not only 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 restoration with strengthening the resilience of rural communities. Such initiatives lay the foundation 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.

As noted by Shakhnoza Muminova, Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine, the launch of the project is an important step toward establishing systematic investment in the restoration of Ukraine’s forest landscapes. Amid the prolonged impact of the war on natural resources and institutions, the aforesaid initiative creates a foundation for restoration that is environmentally sound, institutionally sustainable, and aligned with the country’s long-term reconstruction priorities.

The project also builds on the results of previous cooperation between FAO and GEF in Ukraine. Specifically, between 2017 and 2023, a program was implemented that helped strengthen monitoring systems, improve the legislative and policy framework, and introduce sustainable land management practices across an area of over 248,000 hectares.

The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture views the new initiative as part of a long-term strategy aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, updating approaches to forest management, and restoring ecosystems.