The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources continues to actively work on the reform of the forestry sector, which is a key element of the country’s sustainable development strategy.

Recently, the Ministry held a working meeting with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) to discuss the achievements and challenges related to forest sector reform.

As a reminder, Ukraine is continuing to reform its forestry sector to improve the efficiency of forest management.

Current global trends require the introduction of effective and transparent mechanisms for managing natural resources. One of the main challenges is to bring Ukrainian legislation in line with international standards, in particular the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which was adopted on 31 May 2023 and will enter into force on 30 December 2025.

This regulation sets strict requirements for the traceability of forest products and their compliance with environmental standards. For Ukrainian companies, this means the need to implement geolocation systems and proper verification of timber origin at all stages of the supply chain, which will help increase trust from European partners and open up new export opportunities.

New approaches also require updating the regulatory framework. The issue of developing a new Forest Code is currently under discussion. The meeting participants agreed to cooperate in setting up a working group to develop it. It will include representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the Parliamentary Committee, the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”, NGOs, scientific institutions and other stakeholders.

The main task of the group will be to develop a concept for a new Forest Code of Ukraine that will take into account the principles of sustainable forest management, strengthen control over the forest industry and facilitate Ukraine’s integration into European environmental policy.

“The creation of the new Forest Code is not just a change in legislation, but a strategic update of the entire approach to forest management in Ukraine. We aim to lay the foundation for environmentally responsible, economically efficient and socially just forest management. Cooperation with FAO will help us to effectively organise the work on the document and involve as many competent participants as possible,” said Deputy Minister Oleksandr Semenets.

The working group’s priorities include the unification of terminology in line with EU standards, which will help align national policy with European norms. It is also planned to improve the mechanisms for developing and approving forest management materials, taking into account the interests of all stakeholders, which will ensure a balanced use of forest resources.

Particular attention will be paid to identifying effective mechanisms of state supervision and control that will help preserve forests and prevent illegal logging. In addition, the working group will work on harmonising national legislation with European standards, in particular in the context of implementing the EUDR Regulation.

The cooperation between the Ministry and FAO in creating a new Forest Code is an important step towards sustainable forest management. Through effective reforms, the Ukrainian forestry industry will be able to meet the highest environmental standards, integrate into the global market, and ensure that future generations will benefit from the preserved natural resources.