“Ownerless” forests in Volyn and Rivne regions are transferred to state management

The State Forest Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” is consistently closing loopholes that for years served as a field for shadow schemes.

Over the past year, more than 17,000 hectares of forest lands have been regulated in the two regions. During the inventory process, these areas were identified as “grey zones” that had remained without an official user for decades.

This work was effectively carried out in cooperation with regional and district military administrations, the North-Western Interregional Forestry and Hunting Management Office, and other relevant state authorities.

Such a status quo of forest areas created a dangerous vacuum. “Ownerless” forests were vulnerable to illegal logging, land grabbing, and private exploitation. It was an open opportunity for abuse, where the state lost control due to legal conflicts.

The situation is changing dramatically. As of today, within the Polissya Forest Office branch, 13.2 thousand hectares have already been transferred to state management, and property rights have been registered for 12.9 thousand hectares. The remaining plots—less than 4 thousand hectares—are at the final stage of land management documentation and approval of the relevant decisions.

Thus, “grey zones” in forest management are gradually disappearing.