The development of forest sector require scientific support of state policy on implementation of sustainable forest management, increasing forest resources and forest in Ukraine to the optimum level, improving the efficiency of forest management through the use of modern scientifically based methods of restoration and cultivation of forests and management of various functions of forests, protection forests against fires, pests and diseases.

Forest research is carried out by Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Agromelioration named after G.M.Vysotskiy (URIFFM) and Ukrainian Research Institute of Mountain Forestry named after P.S.Pasternak (URIMF).

URIFFM (Kharkiv) has Steppe (Kherson) and Polissya (Zhytomyr) division, 7 forest research stations (in Vinnytsa, Kyiv, Crimea, Lugansk, Mariupol, Novgorod-Siverskiy, Kharkiv), Krasnotrostyatets department. URIMF (Ivano-Frankivsk) performs the research in Carpathian Region (Ivano-Frankivsk, Transcarpathia, Lviv and Chernovtsy region). The institute has a research and experimental base that includes Carpathian forest research unit (Mukacheve), Mountain forest research unit, hydro stations.

Research network of URIFFM and URIMF covers all-natural zones and unique forest research places, some of which were created over 150 years ago.

In 2004 by the joint decision of the National Academy of Science and the State Forest Resources Agency URIFFM and URIMF got the status of dual subordination to the National Academy of Science (in research and methodology) and to the State Forest Resources Agency (in financial and economic activities and in research and methodology).

Network of scientific organizations of State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine

The research performed by URIFFM and URIMF covers fundamental and practical aspects.

In 2015 there was started a new 5-year period plan for scientific research performed under the state budget support. Besides of these scientific institutions are carrying out research for state forest enterprises and other sectors under contract terms.

Scientific institutions have a large field of research base where are performed the majority of studies. About a third of the total base area is stationary permanent research sites. They are located also on lands of state forest enterprises. Currently, there are about 1100 such plots with a total area of almost 4000 hectares. The scientific value of these plots only grows over the time.

Forest research institutions place high emphasis on cooperation with international organizations and participation in international projects. Forestry institutes are members of International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). In 2002 URIFFM became a member of European Forest Institute (EFI). Scientists are collaborating with academic institutions in Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovak Republic, Austria, Switzerland, USA, Germany and others. URIFFM is the national coordinating center for forest monitoring. The institute also is conducting research within European and American forest monitoring programs. URIFFM employees take also part in the activities of the European EUFORGEN networks working on conservation of genetic resources of the main broadleaf tree species.

The research institutes provide possibility of post-graduate studies for forest specialists recognized by international standards. URIFFM formed an academic council for those theses: 06.03.01 – planted forest and phytomelioration, 06.03.03 – forestry.

URIFFM publishes scientific research journal «Silviculture and agromelioration» which is a professional in two specialties (agricultural and biological sciences). It presents the results of research on all forest related issue including forest regeneration, agroforestry, forest entomology, plant pathology, monitoring, radiology, etc.

Scientific institutions are also supporting in developing of new normative regulations (rules, guidelines, recommendations, etc.) that improve forest management on the principles of sustainable development.