Month: October 2025

This year, as always, the foresters of SFE “Forests of Ukraine” are actively working to create the most favorable conditions for the growth of forest plantations.

In particular, in Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Kirovohrad regions, the specialists of the «Tsentralnyi Forest Office» branch carried out thinning operations on 9,259 hectares, exceeding the planned target of 8,162 hectares by 13%.

By types of thinning:

Cleaning – 1,571 ha

Pre-commercial thinning – 1,752 ha

Thinning – 1,424 ha

Selective thinning – 4,212 ha

Forest thinning is carried out at different stages of tree growth and is an essential condition for cultivating high-quality and resilient forests.

Cleaning helps to form stands of the desired composition and density.

Pre-commercial thinning ensures proper composition and even distribution of the main tree species across the area, forming the optimal structure of future forest stands.

Thinning creates the best conditions for forming the stem and crown of trees in the stand.

Selective thinning increases tree growth and overall forest resilience; it is conducted in more mature forests, preparing them for the main felling.

It is important to understand that thinning operations are not a profit-oriented activity. On the contrary, they require significant investment. The main goal of such forestry measures is not economic gain, but to create optimal conditions for forest development.

Thinning is a systematic and meticulous process without which it is impossible to grow a healthy, productive, and resilient forest.

This autumn, the enterprise is completing the President’s «Zelena kraina» program in the part concerning the planting of one billion trees. The final stage has begun — within a month, the one-billionth tree will be planted.

However, quantity is not an end in itself for the foresters.

“Restoration of Ukraine’s forests and the expansion of the forest fund area should unite Ukrainian society and draw attention to environmental issues and biodiversity conservation. Forest restoration is a component of our country’s recovery,” notes Yurii Bolokhovets, Head of SFE “Forests of Ukraine.”

At the final stage of the «Zelena kraina» our enterprise is paying particular attention to creating new forests where there were none before, or to restoring forests that were damaged as a result of military hostilities, fires, windstorms, or illegal logging.

Thus, the first tree planting of this autumn took place in Kyiv Region, at the Khotianivske Forestry Management Subunit (Dymerske Forestry Management Unit) near Nyzhnia Dubechnia. Last year, at this site, almost one hectare of young forest burned after a missile strike. In total, since the beginning of the year, over 60 hectares of forest in the Dymerske Forestry Management Unit have burned as a result of falling UAVs and missiles. Since the start of the war, this has amounted to hundreds of hectares.

We restored the forest destroyed by the war together with members of the Vyshedubechanske School Forestry, students of the National University of Life Resources and Environmental Management of Ukraine, and the children of employees of the Dymerske Forestry Management Unit.

“We are creating new forests for future generations of Ukrainians; therefore, it is very important to foster in our children and youth a love for the forest and a responsible attitude toward it,” stated Yurii Bolokhovets.

The site where the missile exploded is being restored using a modern technique — pine is being planted together with rowan, birch, and viburnum.

Pine is the principal forest-forming species in the north of the country, fast-growing and undemanding as to soils. It is high-value merchantable timber — a resource for industry and construction.

Birch grows faster than pine and provides natural shade, which helps young pines establish more successfully.

Rowan attracts birds and promotes natural seed dispersal.

Viburnum serves as the understory, forming a protective layer, reducing soil desiccation, and at the same time acting as a natural barrier to the spread of fire.

The combination of coniferous and deciduous species reduces the risks of large-scale fires and promotes biodiversity.

Pine seedlings with a closed root system have been sown at the selection-and-seed center in Zhytomyr Region.

Over the next week, the autumn silvicultural campaign will begin across all SFE “Forests of Ukraine” forestry enterprises. We are restoring and planting new forests together with children and students. «Zelena kraina» is the country we are creating for them—where they will live and work!

In total, this is over 130 thousand m3 of firewood throughout Ukraine.

Firewood harvesting for the population remains at last year’s level. Demand traditionally increased in the autumn, but there is no rush. By the end of the year, it is planned to harvest over 900 thousand m3 more, forming a strategic reserve for the winter period.

SFE “Forests of Ukraine” maintains stable prices for the social sector and the population. As last year, the average cost is approximately 1,000−1,100 UAH per cubic meter (including VAT).

How to buy firewood?

✔️ Contact the nearest forestry enterprise in your region, bringing your passport and identification code;

✔️ Write an application specifying the volume (it should not exceed 15 cubic meters);

✔️ Receive an invoice, pay at the bank or through a terminal right at the forestry enterprise;

✔️ Pick up the firewood from the warehouse.

Each of our regional branches provided more detailed information on where to get firewood, including contact details and detailed prices for all groups of firewood by region:

Branch «Stolychnyi Forest Office» (Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17PK4Ka1P3/

Branch «Poliskyi Forest Office» (Volyn and Rivne regions)

https://www.facebook.com/reel/3991816457701677

Branch «Karpatskyi Forest Office» (Zakarpattia, Lviv, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DK9BiPHpL/

Branch «Tsentralnyi Forest Office»(Cherkasy, Vinnytsia, and Kirovohrad regions)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16wACBV2jv/

Branch «Slobozhanskyi Forest Office» (Poltava, Kharkiv regions)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1a3gGSRVJi/

Branch “Pivnichnyi Forest Office” (Sumy, Chernihiv regions)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19efWbMrRE/

Branch “Pivdennyi Forest Office” (Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson regions)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FdFyZrzZf/

We advise you not to postpone buying firewood until the last moment. Stock up on firewood in advance. This will allow the wood to dry out, significantly increasing its heat output.

Topic: Development of the forestry and wood-processing industries. Participants: Members of Parliament, leadership of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine and SFE “Forests of Ukraine”, scientists, and representatives of leading business associations.

“The issue we must address is the shortage of raw materials for Ukrainian wood-processing enterprises,” said Oleksii Soboliev.

“The main reason lies in excessive regulation — outdated sanitary rules, inefficiencies in certain environmental procedures, and often unjustified restrictions on economic activities in forests. Forests are a strategic resource, one that can be regularly renewed. They should generate added value and play a key role in the economic development of the country.”

According to the Minister, the increase in harvesting and processing volumes must go hand in hand with fulfilling key environmental commitments. Therefore, a joint action plan will be developed — one that will include short-term steps to expand harvesting and long-term strategic decisions that take into account environmental impact and integration into EU markets.

Head of the State Forest Resources Agency, Viktor Smal, noted that the decisions developed jointly by the Ministry, Members of Parliament, and business associations will help balance environmental policy and economic development.

“We are talking about updating sanitary regulations, simplifying the environmental impact assessment procedure, introducing modern harvesting methods, and revising the State Forest Management Strategy of Ukraine until 2035. Outdated sanitary rules, inefficiency in certain environmental procedures, and frequent unjustified restrictions on economic activities in forests — all these are factors that cause a shortage of raw materials for Ukrainian wood-processing enterprises,” – said Viktor Smal.

Representatives of the international non-governmental organization FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Ukraine and specialists from SFE “Forests of Ukraine” conducted a two-day press tour for journalists, architects, designers, foresters, wood processors, and all interested participants. The event showcased responsible forest management practices in accordance with FSC standards in Ukraine.

Discussions focused particularly on the potential of wood as a renewable material for achieving low-carbon construction goals and ensuring the supply of certified forest products to consumers.

On October 9, the first day of the tour, participants visited the Lviv Forest Seed Selection Center of the “Forest Reproductive Resources” branch.

There, Taras Chikhrak, Assistant Head of the Lviv Forestry Management Unit of the «Karpatskyi Forest Office» branch, and Halyna Domashovets, Head of the Forest Certification Sector of the Ecosystem Services and Recreation Department at SFE “Forests of Ukraine”, presented key information about the enterprise — the largest forest user in Ukraine — using the Lviv Forestry Management Unitas an example.

Experts emphasized the importance of sustainable and responsible forest management based on close-to-nature forestry principles.

“In today’s conditions, we must respond to multiple factors: climate change, transformation of forest-growing conditions, the need to balance economic, social, and environmental interests, legislative and regulatory changes, the ongoing transformation of Forests of Ukraine, the effort to maintain FSC certification across new structural units, and, of course, the war in Ukraine — all these influence forest management. Therefore, close cooperation between our foresters’ practical experience and experts’ scientific approach is key to responsible management. The combination of forestry expertise and research-based insight enables us to develop effective procedures that transform valuable forest areas into resilient ecosystems capable of meeting modern challenges”, – emphasized Taras Chikhrak.

Pavlo Kravets, National Representative of FSC Ukraine, noted that thanks to this low-carbon construction forest tour, media representatives and architects had the opportunity to discover responsible forestry through the lens of FSC certification.

“This tour marks another important step forward in increasing transparency in the forestry sector, showcasing best practices that meet FSC standards, and promoting the importance of balancing ecological, economic, and social interests. We commend the efforts of Forests of Ukraine in meeting public expectations for preserving and enhancing the country’s forest heritage while contributing to low-carbon construction and green recovery,” – said Pavlo Kravets.

Media, architects, and designers were shown the process of growing seedlings of main forest-forming species and learned about all the stages a seed goes through before becoming a mighty forest.

At the Lviv Forest Seed Selection Center, where for over ten years seedlings with closed root systems (CRS) of main forest species have been cultivated, specialists are currently caring for Crimean pine seedlings — a future resource for forest restoration in southeastern Ukraine.

The growth cycle of a standard seedling lasts 2–3 years, from seed harvesting to packaging and planting in forest areas. Tour participants observed all stages of this process — from seed to final product.

At the Richkivske Forestry’s permanent nursery, foresters also demonstrated the difference between cultivating seedlings in open soil and in special containers. This allowed journalists and designers to learn about forest growing in the Malyi Polissia region, characterized by sod-podzolic, gray forest, and peat-bog soils. Each tour participant contributed to forest restoration by planting young seedlings in the forests of Lviv Region and observed tree growth stages — from three to one hundred years old.

A separate focus of the tour was on natural forest regeneration. Foresters explained that while natural regeneration is a priority method of close-to-nature forestry, it does not always occur effectively. Factors such as climate change, pest or disease damage, and dense ground vegetation (e.g., brambles) can hinder natural regrowth. In such cases, foresters complement unwooded areas with seedlings, combining the advantages of natural and artificial regeneration. This approach helps form resilient mixed stands with diverse age structures, ensuring the ecological stability of forest ecosystems.

“Obtaining an FSC certificate by the forestry branches of the Carpathian Forest Office is not just about including the certification code in accompanying or trade documents.It is solid proof that the enterprise ensures a balance of economic, social, and environmental requirements in forest management. Moreover, it obliges forest users to engage with stakeholders when making key management decisions. Simply put, certification confirms the international recognition of forest products and the fact that the forest is of legal origin, managed in a way that conserves biodiversity, benefits local communities and employees, and sustains its economic potential,”– emphasized Halyna Domashovets.

New equipment for forest allocation and inventory work has been purchased for the “Slobozhansky Forest Office” branch. The acquisition includes laser hypsometers-rangefinders, electronic calipers, and GNSS receivers. This purchase is part of the company’s investment program.

The new tools are essential for ensuring measurement accuracy during forest inventory operations. These inventories are conducted by forestry specialists to determine the volume and quality of timber, as well as key tree parameters such as height, density, and age. This information helps assess the size, value, and utilization potential of forest resources.

The new equipment is already being used across most Forestry Management Units of the branch for forest stand inventory work.

The introduction of modern tools and data processing methods has demonstrated several advantages. Previously, such tasks required an entire team, whereas now two specialists can complete them in less time while also preparing digital materials for obtaining an electronic felling ticket.

“Before, we used traditional measuring forks. Now everything is automated — modern instruments with receivers allow us to speed up the process, obtain more accurate data, and save human resources, time, and money,” — explained the branch specialists.

All collected data is automatically stored in digital form, ensuring not only accuracy and reliability but also easy access and integration into further forestry operations.

By adopting such modern technologies, the branch is increasing its profitability and operational efficiency.

In the future, the company plans to equip all forest districts of the branch with these modern measuring devices.

Fierce battles continue in the Donetsk region, affecting not only towns and villages but also local forestry enterprises. Almost all former forest management buildings, video surveillance towers, and early forest fire detection systems have been destroyed.

This summer, the Donetsk forestries were transferred to the «Skhidnyi Forest Office» branch of the State Forests Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.” Despite the destroyed infrastructure, the situation with forest fires has been successfully stabilized.

The area affected by fires decreased by more than half: last year, fires covered 4.6 thousand hectares of forest land in the region, while this year — only 1.9 thousand hectares. Out of 100 recorded fire incidents, 98 were caused by combat actions.

The situation is much better in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, where the SFE “Forests of Ukraine” has maintained control for several years.

In Zaporizhzhia region, during the entire fire-hazardous period, fires affected 78.2 hectares of forest land (32 fires in total), of which 76.2 hectares were due to combat actions and 1.5 hectares due to human factors.

In Dnipropetrovsk region, 121 fires occurred over 118.6 hectares, 41 hectares of which were caused by warfare, and the rest by human activity. The region experienced an exceptionally hot and dry summer, causing fires to spread rapidly from farmlands and private properties.

The forest protection units of the branch demonstrated high efficiency — the average area of forest fires in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions was less than 1 hectare.

Meanwhile, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” strengthened the branch with new equipment — six new forest fire modules have already been delivered. By the end of the year, the Eastern Forestry Office is expected to receive even more of these modules.

Next year, the plan includes the purchase of two large fire trucks for the branch, as the advancing front line increases the risk of large-scale forest fires.

Currently, the branch operates 22 fire trucks and 26 forest fire modules, which are used across all forestry districts, including the Donetske Forestry Management Unit.

More than 2,220 employees of SFE “Forests of Ukraine” have been mobilized to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard. They serve in over 100 brigades across various units. Both the company’s branches — by transferring vehicles and other equipment — and the Union of Forester Warriors of Ukraine, by purchasing the most needed supplies, actively support them.

Over 250 deliveries of aid were made in the first nine months of 2025 through several forms of assistance.

✔️ Targeted (Individual) Assistance

This was the most common type of support — about 150 deliveries, organized by the Union of Forester Warriors of Ukraine. Every week, the Union’s head, Volodymyr Kovalchuk, and 20 regional representatives receive dozens of requests from mobilized foresters and work promptly to meet these needs.

Among the top priorities are drones — over 100 quadcopters and FPV drones have been provided. Other essential equipment includes electronic warfare systems, thermal imagers, generators, Starlink terminals, laptops, vehicle parts, and fortification materials. Recently, the Union has also started supplying advanced drone detectors capable of intercepting live video from enemy UAV cameras.

✔️ Support for Brigades Where Foresters Serve

This year, the Union appointed 50 representatives in brigades where foresters serve, significantly improving the efficiency of its work. These representatives — mobilized foresters themselves — directly understand the needs of their units, enabling the Union to respond effectively and provide moral support through constant communication.

More than 70 aid deliveries were made to these brigades. For instance:

Drones with enhanced cameras helped the 42nd Separate Mechanized Brigade locate wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

Thermal imagers supplied to air defense units enabled the detection and destruction of about ten Shahed drones.

The 68th Jaeger Brigade used drones to detect and neutralize enemy sabotage groups in Pokrovsk.

✔️ Support for Sponsored Brigades

The company provided the 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade with five cargo semi-trailers for transporting armored vehicles.

The 49th Separate Assault Battalion “Carpathian Sich” received a certificate for a production workshop equipped with professional tools for manufacturing ground-based drones.

The 412th Nemesis Drone Regiment received eight vehicles from the enterprise’s branches. 

Together with the Union, they also supplied the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade with a large mobile bath and laundry complex.

In total, over 350 units of various equipment have been provided to the Armed Forces this year. Such assistance has become systematic and ongoing — carried out almost daily. SFE “Forests of Ukraine” and the Union of Forester Warriors remain committed to ensuring that Ukrainian defenders are fully equipped and always feel the care and support of their colleagues.

The Pivdennyi Forest Office branch of SFE “Forests of Ukraine” is actively preparing for the autumn reforestation campaign. This season will be special, as it marks the completion of the first stage of the President’s “Green Country” program, which aims to plant 1 billion trees.

Since 2021, more than 59 million trees have already been planted in southern Ukraine — most of them since 2023, following the launch of the forest reform. The total area of newly created forest plantations now amounts to 8,155.7 hectares.

This year, the plan is to plant an additional 3.4 million seedlings in the southern regions. They will grow not only in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions, but also on the de-occupied territories of Kherson region.

The main goal of this season is the creation of new forests — on a total area of 300 hectares that previously had no forest cover.

For southern Ukraine, the creation of new forests is especially important, as this region has the lowest forest cover in the country and is prone to drought, erosion, and desertification. Trees protect the soil, retain moisture, improve the microclimate, and support biodiversity.

To grow forests in such challenging southern conditions, the branch is producing its own planting material.

Currently, seedlings are being cultivated on more than 45 hectares. Some of them grow in controlled environments (greenhouses and planting boxes), while the rest are grown in open-field forest nurseries. Both traditional planting stock and container-grown seedlings with closed root systems — which have a higher survival rate — are being used.

In the first half of the year, foresters have already collected over 11 tons of seeds of the main forest-forming species. Despite a difficult year in terms of seed yield, in the third quarter, they also managed to harvest over 1,800 kg of stone-fruit species seeds.

Planting will begin as soon as favorable weather conditions arrive in the region. The best time is after the first autumn rains, when the soil is sufficiently moist and loose. The optimal air temperature for planting is between +8 and +12°C — conditions under which seedlings have the highest chances of quick establishment and can successfully begin the growth of a new forest.

Last week, another meeting with market participants took place in Lviv, initiated by a group of Members of Parliament. The discussions focused on familiar issues: prospects for increasing harvesting volumes, transparency in the timber sales system, and the efficiency of the forest management model.

Some participants of the meeting, consciously or not, continue to ignore obvious facts, repeatedly voicing claims that have no basis in reality.

Below are several comments based on the outcomes of the meeting:

1.The forest reform is legal and successful — that’s a fact!

The forest reform is based on a Presidential Decree, a decision of the National Security and Defense Council, and a Cabinet of Ministers resolution, all of which provided for the centralization of forest enterprise management and the creation of a unified specialized state forestry company (with a future perspective of transformation into a joint-stock company fully owned by the state).

The corporatization process of SFE “Forests of Ukraine” is also stipulated by law.

Thanks to the reform and a transparent, competitive timber sales system, the previously subsidized forest sector has become a net contributor to the state budget. This year, “Forests of Ukraine” increased payments by 70%, reaching a record UAH 10.7 billion.

The reform also made it possible to revive forestry in southern Ukraine, supply free timber to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and implement investment projects using internal resources — including a network of recreational areas, modern seed centers, new firefighting equipment, and the construction of forest roads.

2.Foresters were the first to propose solutions for increasing harvesting

In 2023–2024, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” repeatedly faced a lack of demand — at major auctions, only about 50% of the offered timber was sold, despite low prices.

Nevertheless, the enterprise consistently drew attention to factors that artificially limit harvesting and create risks for the industry’s development.

In particular, foresters have repeatedly submitted proposals to amend the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Certain provisions (implemented only in Ukraine) result in the loss of millions of cubic meters of timber annually. Unfortunately, these proposals have not been considered.

Next year, SFE “Forests of Ukraine” plans to increase harvesting to 11.7 million m³.

Currently, forest inventory materials are being approved, which will facilitate the use of the calculated annual allowable cut.

The process of re-inventorying is underway in Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil, Poltava, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions. In Zhytomyr, Rivne, Sumy, and Khmelnytskyi regions, forest management data are being updated.

3.Ukrainian foresters are gradually adopting European practices

SFE “Forests of Ukraine” is implementing European forest management practices.

Unfortunately, Ukraine inherited a Soviet-style model based on clear-cut harvesting once stands reached a certain age. In contrast, European countries focus on annual growth indicators and use close-to-nature forestry, which increases the wood stock growth per hectare per year from 4 to 10–12 m³.

Ukrainian scientists have been researching the introduction of close-to-nature forestry since 2008. Back in 2018, foresters initiated changes to felling regulations, though they were only approved last year. Modern methods have yet to be applied, as the regulatory framework allows this only after updating forest management plans — a process that can take decades.

However, it is important to note that not all Ukrainian forests are comparable in productivity to those of Poland or Germany. The southern and eastern regions are non-resource areas, serving primarily ecological functions. About 1.1 million hectares of forests managed by SFE “Forests of Ukraine” belong to the Nature Reserve Fund, resulting in a 1.5 million m³ reduction in annual harvesting.

A significant part of forest areas in resource-rich regions remains inaccessible due to hostilities. In the Sumy region, this applies to one-third of forestry enterprises; in the Kharkiv region, to more than half. In total, 300,000 hectares under SFE “Forests of Ukraine” management are mined.