State Forest Resources Agency Representative Maryana Ostrovska becomes Co-Chair of the «Forest Friends for Ukraine» group

During the 10th FOREST EUROPE Ministerial Conference in Stockholm, participating countries signed a joint declaration establishing the Forest Friends for Ukraine (FFU) working group.

With the technical support of the European Forest Institute (EFI), the group will develop and coordinate the measures necessary to support Ukraine’s forest sector and engage donors in the establishment of a Multi-Donor Trust Fund, which will pool financial resources to assist the country’s forestry sector.

The FFU will be co-chaired by Maryana Ostrovska, Head of the International Relations, Science and Public Communications Department of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, and Fredrik Silfverbrand, Head of the FOREST EUROPE Liaison Unit in Sweden. Vasyl Masiuk, a member of the Public Council under the State Forest Resources Agency, has been appointed as Coordinator of the FFU Secretariat.

According to Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the country requires a new standard for coordinating support to its forest sector. The Forest Friends for Ukraine initiative, as part of the FOREST EUROPE political process, provides an ideal platform for developing and implementing such a standard.

At the same time, Viktor Smal, Head of the State Forest Resources Agency, identified the key priorities for supporting the forestry sector: addressing the challenges and consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion, ensuring sustainable forest management under climate change conditions, advancing European integration, and attracting investment for recovery and reconstruction.

According to FOREST EUROPE, the establishment of FFU represents a significant step toward mobilizing international cooperation in support of Ukraine’s forests – not only for their restoration but also for building a more sustainable and resilient future.

The working group is currently focused on several key tasks:

- developing the rules and operational framework, including those governing the Multi-Donor Trust Fund;

- preparing the FFU Support Strategy for the period 2027–2031;

- organizing a donor conference in Kyiv.

«FFU is intended to become a mechanism for political coordination of assistance aimed at restoring Ukraine’s forest sector through international dialogue and a coordinated support programme. Ukraine is a full-fledged participant in shaping European forest policy within the framework of the FOREST EUROPE intergovernmental process. This political platform brings together more than 45 European countries. We are deeply grateful for the support of the international forestry community during this challenging period for our country», - said Maryana Ostrovska.