Strengthening forest research for the support of Ukraine

Expected Outcome:

Successful proposals should support the recovery, resilience, and EU integration of Ukraine’s forest sector, addressing the compounded impacts of climate change and Russia’s war of aggression.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Ukrainian decision-makers and policymakers gain access to robust scientific data, tools, and methodologies for developing and implementing evidence-based policies that are aligned with EU forest-related policies;

• recovery, restoration, sustainable management and development of Ukraine’s war-affected forests through improved governance, enhanced institutional capacity, and the implementation of sustainable forest management practices that address the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and Russian invasion;

• strengthened Ukrainian forest research and education systems, providing a solid evidence basis for forestry policy development, supporting students and educators, and promoting innovation in forest science;

• expanded national and international cooperation and the development of a national forest monitoring system, enabling knowledge exchange and global cooperation in sustainable forestry;

• accelerated alignment of Ukraine’s forest governance, legislation, and technical standards with EU acquis communautaire, reinforcing its path toward EU accession and long-term convergence with European environmental (including biodiversity) and climate goals.

Scope:

To address the pressing challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss and Russia's war against Ukraine, significant advancements in forest science, education, and international collaboration are essential. The war has caused severe damage to Ukraine’s forests, exacerbated institutional and capacity issues in forestry governance and research and innovation, and highlighted the need for capacity building and knowledge exchange. Another key priority for the coming years will be the full digitalisation of Ukraine’s forest cadastre to establish a reliable, transparent, and accessible system for forest governance and scientific research.

Proposals should develop innovative research, policy, and capacity-building actions that contribute to the post-war recovery and sustainable transformation of Ukraine’s forest sector. Proposals should explore diverse approaches and methods but should clearly address Ukraine’s unique context. Anticipated Ukrainian stakeholders to be involved include local and regional authorities, national ministries and public agencies, academic and research institutions, forest owners and managers, local communities, civil society organizations, NGOs, forest industry representatives, and educational institutions. The action under this topic is relevant to EU policies related to the recovery and sustainable management of forests, including the EU forest strategy for 2030, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the European Green Deal, the EU climate adaptation strategy, and the Nature Restoration Regulation.

Proposals should:

• strengthen Ukrainian forest research systems and their integration into policy by expanding data collection, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and providing scientific support to equip decision-makers with evidence for policy development and implementation;

• enhance international collaboration and forest science diplomacy in the context of Ukraine’s recovery, by building partnerships for sustainable forest management, support the digitalisation of Ukraine’s forest cadastre to enable transparent, accurate, and accessible forest data and establish a comprehensive, continuous forest monitoring system, aligned with EU and global policies;

• strengthen Ukrainian institutional and governance capacity by improving frameworks and research institutions to ensure the long-term resilience and effectiveness of sustainable forest management practices;

• promote innovation in Ukrainian forest education and training by modernizing curricula, supporting student mobility and international research collaboration, and developing lifelong learning programmes for forestry professionals;

• contribute to the alignment of Ukrainian forestry-related legislation, inspection systems, and standards with EU legislation as a core component of the EU accession and integration process.