Ukraine and Germany Coordinate Cooperation in the Forestry Sector

«During a working meeting with First Secretary for Agriculture at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Yvonne Gall and Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity Manager at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Yevhen Vasylichenko, we discussed the rational and максимально efficient use of the resources allocated by Germany. We also exchanged views on how to implement joint projects more effectively», - said Head of the State Forest Resources Agency Viktor Smal.

According to him, two such projects are currently being implemented in Ukraine.

«As part of one of them, the Ukrainian State Forest Inventory Enterprise (Ukrderzhlisproekt), which operates under the management of the State Forest Resources Agency, received two off-road vehicles in December last year. Work is also ongoing to develop technical requirements for the digitalization of the State Forest Cadastre», - Viktor Smal noted.

He added that the implementation of another project on sustainable forest management has been ongoing for the second year out of the three предусмотренных by the program. It mainly involves seminars, exchange of experience, and payment for the work of Ukrainian experts.

«However, we propose to shift this project, which is currently largely research-oriented, into a more practical direction. In particular, to allocate funds for the purchase of equipment to determine and record precise coordinates within the framework of the national forest inventory, which will provide a concrete and measurable result», - the head of the State Forest Resources Agency emphasized.

Viktor Smal assured his German colleagues that the Agency is always open to cooperation and ready to provide all necessary information, and also has a clear vision of further areas of collaboration. For example, this may include the mechanization of logging, as a significant portion of harvesting is still carried out manually, as well as the wider use of wood in construction.

«We are grateful to Germany and the German Ministry of Agriculture for their support. We hope for further fruitful cooperation», - the head of the State Forest Resources Agency concluded.