The establishment of protected areas remains a priority for the State Forest Resources Agency

The level of protected areas within forests managed by the State Forest Resources Agency stands at 17%. Overall, 50% of Ukraine’s forests are subject to certain restrictions on forestry activities aimed at preserving ecosystems and protecting rare species. This was reported by Head of the State Forest Resources Agency, Viktor Smal.

«For comparison, in EU countries, protected areas account for around 5%, while most forests are multifunctional, combining conservation and commercial uses», - the Head of the Agency emphasized.

He added that Ukraine is considering the expansion of protected areas, taking into account environmental, economic, and social factors.

«It is important to consider that due to the full-scale war, the area of forests available for economic use in Ukraine has significantly decreased: about 1 million hectares are temporarily occupied, another 0.5 million hectares require demining, and 0.1 million hectares are located in active combat zones. At the same time, the front line and the wood-processing industry require timber, and the forest sector must supply it and increase harvesting – this is one of the government’s key tasks for this year», - Viktor Smal noted.

At the same time, according to him, there is a clear understanding of the importance of preserving unique forests. Therefore, despite significant resource losses, the State Forest Resources Agency continues working on expanding protected areas.

«This year, we plan to complete the process of establishing the new «Chornyi Lis» National Park – the first in the Kirovohrad region. The State Enterprise «Forests of Ukraine» has already approved the forest land plots that will become part of the future national park, with their subsequent withdrawal from the enterprise’s permanent use», - Viktor Smal concluded.