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The launch of a new project
Full Project Title:
“Advocacy for Forest Protection Against Illegal Logging: Removing Legal Barriers for Efficiency”
Why Are We Implementing This Project?
One of the key areas of institutional activity for our organization is combating illegal logging in Ukraine — a complex process that requires significant resources and expertise, particularly in forestry and law.
The forestry sector is a multi-player arena governed by a complex set of rules. At stake are the environment, the transparency of the legal system, and Ukraine’s international reputation. However, the current regulatory framework is far from perfect: it lacks clearly defined responsibilities for many types of forest-related violations, especially in terms of transportation, storage, and sale of illegally harvested timber. Court rulings are often lenient, with suspended sentences and quick return of confiscated tools and vehicles to their owners. This legal ambiguity allows offenders to evade just punishment and downplays the real scale of illegal logging.
An additional challenge is the weak interaction between civil society and law enforcement. Even well-prepared reports submitted by NGOs are often either left without proper investigation or delayed so long that they lose their evidentiary value.
As the Executive Director of NGO “ForestCom” states:
“Despite the security challenges in the country, illegal logging unfortunately continues — as does the work of law enforcement. This work requires a more robust exchange of knowledge and improvements in existing legislation to close loopholes that allow perpetrators to remain unpunished.”
In the context of European integration and the implementation of the new EU Regulation on forest degradation, Ukraine faces significant reputational risks. The inability to ensure effective counteraction to illegal logging could jeopardize the long-term access of Ukrainian timber to EU markets.
The only viable solution is to optimize and clarify the criminal legislation as a way to enhance civil society’s influence on the issue.
What Are Our Goals?
Our primary goal is to carry out an advocacy campaign aimed at amending Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and initiating the establishment of a unified system for recording forest violations. These changes will lay the foundation for strengthening cooperation between civil society organizations and law enforcement, including improving cross-sector communication.
Additionally, we seek to increase public and institutional awareness of the negative consequences of illegal logging — a crucial step to mobilize broader support and pressure for change.
Throughout the project, our experts will continue identifying and documenting illegal logging using proven monitoring methods. An important component of the work will be publicizing identified violations through media publications.
The organization will also analyze Article 246 of the Criminal Code and related legislation, as well as various reporting forms used by forest operators. This analysis will serve as the basis for developing new, high-quality legislative and methodological solutions.
To facilitate cooperation between civil society organizations and law enforcement agencies, the project will also include training sessions on combating illegal logging and meetings with Members of Parliament.
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.