Mitigating Illegal Logging in Ukraine: ForestCom Monitoring Report (2020 - 2023)

A core focus of the NGO “ForestCom” is actively working towards reducing illegal logging and illicit timber trade in Ukraine.

To achieve this, experts from NGO “ForestCom” engage in satellite monitoring to track changes in forest cover and conduct field surveys to identify signs of the legality of cutting areas. They also provide expert assistance to law enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities, using wood science and forestry methods to prevent illegal timber trade in the domestic and international markets. Additionally, they monitor criminal proceedings and court cases. The legal expertise provided by our lawyer plays a critical role in these endeavours. 

We offer the public a report that summarizes the results of the practical work of the NGO “ForestCom” in monitoring compliance with forestry management rules and legislation by forest users throughout the organization's operation: from 2020 to 2023 inclusive.

During the reporting period (four years):

- Organization experts identified 2132 plots with changes in forest cover totaling 1326 hectares, which did not have publicly available information confirming the legality of possible timber harvesting. 

- They surveyed 7092 hectares of forest stands across 10 regions of Ukraine through ground monitoring.

- A total of 7092 hectares of forest stands were surveyed in 10 regions of Ukraine, including 394 hectares of logging areas.

- As a result, signs of forest violations of varying degrees of responsibility were found on 120 plots (groups of plots) in 6 regions of Ukraine, including 48 plots with signs of illegal logging, 

- Consequently, damages totaling 11.280 million hryvnias were calculated based on the forest violations.

- Based on the identified instances of forestry violations, the organisation prepared and submitted 26 reports to the territorial authorities of the State Environmental Inspectorate of Ukraine, as well as more than 40 reports to law enforcement agencies (National Police, State Bureau of Investigation, and others). 

- As a result, law enforcement agencies initiated a total of 40 criminal cases (mostly under Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, occasionally under Articles 364 and 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

- Experts also conduct monthly remote monitoring of primaeval forests in the Carpathian region, during which one case of forest cover change on the edge of a quasi-primeval forest (in the buffer zone) was identified, which was later confirmed during ground monitoring.

Full text of the report at the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15YF24JWIbjRlULchzGu-tGbDcC9chEb7/view?usp=sharing

The report was prepared as part of the project "Combating Illegal Logging in Ukraine" of the U.S. Forest Service International Programs.