“The so-called Peasants’ forest’ in the Rivne region — 10,000 hectares of former state forestry lands that had long remained ownerless.

What was once a real forest now resembles a scorched wasteland. Nearly 500,000 stumps were recorded during the inventory process.”

The estimated damage from illegal logging amounts to UAH 3.4 billion — nearly equivalent to the annual budget of the city of Rivne. This reckless logging continued for years and, unlike in state-run forestry enterprises, somehow remained unnoticed by biodiversity advocates.

Thanks to the firm position of Oleksandr Koval, Head of the Rivne Regional Military Administration, the territory was transferred to the Rafalivka forestry management unit of SFE “Forests of Ukraine.” This spring, we are launching a restoration program for the Peasants’ forest.

Investments in forest restoration, protection, safeguarding, and maintenance over the next five years will total nearly UAH 20 million.

These investments are funded entirely by SFE “Forests of Ukraine.” Thanks to the centralization of forest sector management, we now have the capacity to make such contributions. Financial support from the enterprise is provided not only to subsidized regions in the South and East, but also to resource-rich areas such as the Rivne region.

The restoration of the Peasants’ forest will begin using modern technologies and container-grown seedlings. Instead of fire-prone, pest-sensitive, and climate-vulnerable pure conifer stands, mixed and more resilient forests will be established in the Rivne region, combining both coniferous and deciduous tree species.

We are also continuing the forest restoration program in the Polissia region following the “amber fever” of 2015–2017. A total of 4,200 hectares of forest were damaged as a result of illegal amber mining.

Currently, part of these areas has been allocated for legal mining. These lands belong to local communities. SFE “Forests of Ukraine” is engaged as a contractor responsible for reforestation on the reclaimed sites. But we are interested in ensuring that the newly planted forests are properly maintained and protected. That is why we are appealing to local communities to voluntarily transfer these areas to the State Forest Fund, which would guarantee their long-term preservation,” said Yurii Bolokhovets.