Illegal logging in Transcarpathia caused damage of more than a million hryvnias

Recently, the ForestCom experts examined forest cover changes on the territory of the Zakarpattia oblast using remote sensing images. Several suspicious areas were discovered, where it was impossible to confirm the legality of logging. Based on the analytics, ForestCom experts planned field surveys in Carpathian Regional Forestry Office of State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine.”

Fig. 1. Locations of identification points

As a result of the research the signs of illegal logging were identified in the forest of Tarasivske Forestry District of “Mokryanske Forestry” branch, namely:

• the absence of logging area boundary signs;
• the absence of a logging ticket (official permission for wood harvesting); 
• the absence of official stamps on the stumps of logged trees, and others. 

Taking into account that the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" has established a security department, which is responsible for illegal logging and other inspections in all branches, ForestCom team requested to inspect the names signes in “Mokryanske Forestry” branch.

According to the response from the Carpathian Forestry Office, which checked the Tarasivske Forestry on behalf of the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”, the illegal logging of 56 beech trees was discovered in compartment 29, subcompartment 5, causing financial damage of UAH 1,018,096 (equivalent of USD 27,800). 

Materials on detected illegal logging have been sent to the respective law enforcement agency.

ForestCom team will continue to monitor and highlight the process of bringing to justice those “black loggers” responsible for illegal logging of our forests.

ForestCom activities carried out within the “Combating illegal logging in Ukraine” project supported by the US Forest Service International Programs Office.

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