Head of the State Forest Resources Agency Viktor Smal: The President’s «Green Country» Program Has Been Fulfilled

With the participation of Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Taras Vysotskyi, as well as representatives of the State Forest Resources Agency, SE «Forests of Ukraine», scientists, and veterans, forester-soldier Oleksandr Kotseruba and Daria Nazarova, a student of the Vyshchedubechanske school forestry, planted the symbolic billionth tree. It is an oak — a symbol of the resilience and strength of the Ukrainian people. We all hope it will grow for hundreds of years under a peaceful sky.

Head of the State Forest Resources Agency Viktor Smal recalled that the «Green Country» program was launched in 2021 and envisaged planting 1 billion trees over three years. However, its timely implementation was hindered by Russia’s armed aggression. Nevertheless, the full-scale war did not stop the implementation of this environmental initiative.

«Why did we continue even during the war? Because forest restoration is part of the country’s recovery. The large-scale reconstruction still lies ahead, but we are already taking steps toward healing every day: repairing and building housing, demining fields, restoring roads. And likewise — reviving forests. «Green Country» is not only about the environment. It is about unity. The idea of planting a billion trees has united thousands of Ukrainians — schoolchildren and veterans, foresters and people far removed from the sector. It is in unity that our strength lies», - Viktor Smal noted.

He added that during the implementation of the program, despite the full-scale war, Ukraine managed to launch forestry sector reform, digitalize a number of processes, and gain recognition of its results from the EU: Ukraine has been recognized as a low-risk country in terms of timber exports.

The Head of the State Forest Resources Agency thanked the soldiers, without whom none of this would have been possible — neither the billion trees, nor the reforms, nor the recovery.

«We are not stopping. We will continue planting forests — for all of us and for future generations of Ukrainians», - Viktor Smal concluded.