Forest Law Violations in the Brusturyanske Forestry Enterprise

While working on the investigative documentary “The Silence of Svydovets,” journalist Olena Mudra approached ForestCom's expert team with a request to conduct a legal analysis of forest law violations identified in the forest districts of the Brusturyanske forestry enterprise in late July 2025. These included timber skidding across the Turbat River in the Turbatske Forest District and the transportation of unmarked timber by logging trucks in the Plaiske Forest District.

The NGO’s specialists have encountered the problem of inadequately equipped river crossings on numerous occasions. Contrary to environmental protection obligations, forest users frequently use mountain streams as logging roads for skidding harvested timber. This practice negatively affects the structure of the riverbed, which under normal conditions ensures river stability during floods. Changes in the ecosystem trigger a snowball effect: disturbance of the riverbed in one section affects the river’s capacity for self-regulation along its entire length. As a result, river floods become significantly more severe, causing catastrophic damage to the region.

The proper construction of crossings over the Turbat River is a direct environmental obligation of the Turbatske Forest District of the Brusturyanske forestry enterprise of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.” Neglect of this official duty adversely affects particularly valuable protective forest areas that play a crucial environmental and water-protection role for catchment areas and river channels. This constitutes a violation of the fundamental criteria and principles of the FSC standard—the national forest management standard for Ukraine.

Experts conclude that the incident on the Turbat River demonstrates the forest user’s failure to take effective measures to prevent negative impacts of economic activities on environmental values, to protect and restore natural watercourses, to avoid adverse effects on water quality and quantity, and to mitigate and eliminate impacts when they occur. Officials of the Brusturyanske forestry enterprise are failing to comply with the requirements of Article 64 of the Forest Code of Ukraine regarding the enhancement of water-protection, protective, and other beneficial properties of forests, as well as Articles 40 and 60 of the Law of Ukraine “On Environmental Protection” concerning the rational use of natural resources and the failure to take measures to prevent and eliminate the environmental consequences of harmful impacts on the natural environment.

Another illustrative case occurred in the Plaiske Forest District of the same forestry enterprise: out of four logging trucks transporting timber, two were carrying timber without the required tags. Expert Ihor Skolskyi notes:

“None of the waybills contain photo documentation. Interestingly, there are also no logging permits for the final fellings. After examining the tags on four logs, we see that the stated diameter is identical everywhere—39 cm. However, it is visually evident that the logs differ in diameter. Moreover, there is no uploaded photo of the vehicle in the FIAC system.”

Timber tagging is a critically important element of legal and responsible logging for several reasons. First, it serves as proof of the legal origin of the timber. A tag confirms that the tree was felled on the basis of an official logging permit, within a designated forest compartment and subcompartment, and in compliance with approved standards. Without tagging, timber is considered potentially illegal. Second, tagging ensures traceability. Using the tag number, it is possible to trace the entire path of the timber—from a specific forest plot to a warehouse, processor, or buyer. This is a key control tool for forest protection services, law enforcement agencies, and state inspections.

Thus, a logical question arises: why is only half of the transported timber tagged, and what is the future of the unmarked portion?

As a civil society organization, we once again encounter violations of forest management rules, abuse of office, and negligence in the performance of official duties. We prepared an official appeal to the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” regarding violations of forestry operations and received a response stating that a reprimand had been issued to the head of the Plaiske Forest District for deficiencies in work. The experts also contacted FSC certification bodies but received notification that the Brusturyanske forestry enterprise is not FSC-certified; therefore, there is no possibility to verify compliance with FSC principles. Since September, we have been awaiting a response from the Tiachiv District Police Department regarding the results of the review of our complaint concerning violations in the Plaiske Forest District.

Such cases demonstrate the need for constant state oversight in the field of environmental protection. At present, this function is largely performed by civil initiatives that fully depend on state review of such incidents. However, given the speed and quality of responses, violations of environmental legislation are occurring not only on the part of forest users but also on the part of the relevant supervisory authorities, namely the State Environmental Inspectorate and law enforcement agencies.

Environmental protection requirements are being openly manipulated. While forests in active combat zones are being destroyed by the Russian army, in rear regions they are being degraded by the chronic unwillingness of forest users to comply with legal requirements and by the negligence of responsible supervisory authorities. Learn more about the incidents investigated by experts and the environmental protection challenges in the Carpathians in the investigative documentary “The Silence of Svydovets” by Suspilne Lviv.

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Photos for the publication were provided by Olena Mudra.

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The publication is produced by NGO «ForestCom» with the support of the Askold and Dir Fund as a part of the Strong Civil Society of Ukraine –  a Driver towards Reforms and Democracy project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by Norway and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of NGO «ForestCom» and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Government of Norway, the Government of Sweden and ISAR Ednannia.