The project "Review and Revision of the FSC Risk Assessment of Ukraine" aims to update and improve the existing risk assessment using the latest Risk Assessment Framework FSC-PRO-60-006b of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and by that align it with the EUDR (REGULATION EU 2023/1115 known as the European Union Deforestation Regulation). The project involves a comprehensive review of the existing risk assessment to incorporate the latest data, update information sources, conduct independent risk analysis, and develop new recommendations for risk mitigation.

Key objectives of the project include:

• Reviewing the current risk assessment against the updated version of the FSC risk assessment framework.

• Gathering and analyzing relevant information necessary for conducting a thorough risk analysis.

• Preparing a summary report that synthesizes the results of the existing risk analysis.

• Conducting an independent risk assessment and developing a draft of the new risk evaluation.

• Consulting with stakeholders, including FSC, network partners, national representatives, standard development groups, etc.

• Organizing focused national consultations and incorporating all stakeholder feedback into the final draft.

• Refining the risk assessment based on the feedback received.

• Developing risk maps that highlight areas of non-negligible and negligible risk.

• Working closely with the Country Requirements Program team within the FSC Performance and Standards Unit.

Expected outcomes:

• An updated National risk assessment for Ukraine aligned with EUDR, that reflects the latest changes and includes relevant data to enhance the quality of forest resource management and improve the effectiveness of conservation measures.

• Increased stakeholder engagement in the risk assessment process and consideration of their feedback.

• Enhanced reliability and accuracy of the risk assessment, supporting the sustainable development of the forestry sector based on responsible forest management and global best practices.

The project’s key beneficiaries and partners include national and international organizations involved in sustainable forest management (businesses, chambers, unions, NGOs etc); governmental agencies responsible for forestry sector development and environmental protection; independent consultants and experts in forestry; as well as local communities interested in the sustainable development of forest areas.

The revised FSC Risk Assessment for Ukraine will support FSC-certified companies in using FSC EUDR-aligned solutions. The document will also be useful to other users who need information on the risks of deforestation and forest degradation in Ukraine, the risks of legality and sustainability of forest products in accordance with the EUDR requirements. It can help with risk management even for those companies that are not FSC certified but seek to integrate risk assessment approaches into their policy and compliance.

Project team:

Experts of ForestCom:

Invited experts:

	Volodymyr Pasternak  is a Doctor of Science with over 30 years of experience in the forestry field. He currently serves as a Leading Researcher at the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration where he has been instrumental in forest certification inventory and monitoring. Leveraging his expertise in areas such as scenario analysis, forest inventory and air pollution effects, Volodymyr has contributed to numerous international projects and collaborations.
	Ivan Lakyda,  PhD. in Forestry. About 15 years of experience in the field of research of forest ecosystem services and the impact of climate change on forests. Participant of the ClimaEast project and the Ecosystem Services and Management Program of the International Services and Governance Program of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (ESM, IIASA). He served as an expert in developing a national risk assessment for controlled wood FSC-NRA-UA V1-1, 2019. He has expert knowledge on the conversion of forest land to other types of land use, high conservation values areas, and adaptive forest management.
	Liubov Poliakova is a skilled professional with over 15 years of experience in forestry environmental and climate change fields. She has excelled in various roles from government positions to consulting and academia Serving as a Consultant for FOREST EUROPE and Head of the International Cooperation Division at the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine Liubov has been integral in international projects climate change initiatives and public relations while actively contributing to intergovernmental negotiations.
	Roman Volosyanchuk, PhD. in Forestry, is a leading expert in forestry and forest conservation in Ukraine. He has over 30 years of experience including research and leadership roles at the Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Forest Melioration and extensive involvement in international forestry projects and initiatives. Volosyanchuk's areas of expertise cover diverse topics such as forest genetics, biodiversity conservation, forest certification, and forest law enforcement, and he has authored numerous scientific publications in these fields. He was a crucial participant in creating Ukraine's first National Standard for controlled wood and served as a member of the national initiative to develop a national forestry standard from 2006 to 2008, as well as a member of a working group to develop a national risk assessment for controlled wood FSC-NRA-UA V1-1, 2019. He currently serves as the Head of the FSC National Standard Development Group in Ukraine.
	Oksana Stankevych-Volosianchuk,  a leading expert of the environmental organization "Ecosphera", is an expert in advocating local society rights and forest certification in Ukraine. She has over 10 years of experience in forest certification and has played key roles in developing national forestry standards. Stankevych-Volosyanchuk's areas of expertise include community rights, sustainable forest management, environmental conservation, and the development of certification norms. She was a crucial participant in creating Ukraine's first National Standard for controlled wood and served as a member of the national initiative to develop a national forestry standard from 2006 to 2008, as well as a member of a working group to develop a national risk assessment for controlled wood FSC-NRA-UA V1-1, 2019. Stankevych-Volosyanchuk currently leads an organization focused on promoting sustainable forestry practices and local community rights throughout Ukraine.
	Serhiy Rozvod, PhD in Economics, is a leading expert in forestry research and certification in Ukraine. With over 20 years of experience in the field, he has made significant contributions to the development of sustainable forest management practices in the country. Serhiy has served as an expert on various national and international initiatives, including the National Working Group for Voluntary Forest Certification in Ukraine, the development of the National Risk Assessment, the ENPI-FLEG program, and research programs funded by the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and USAID. As a lead auditor of the FSC certification, he has conducted over 200 FM and CoC audits, and has been actively involved in the field testing and development of the National FSC Forest Certification Standard in Ukraine.
	Oleh Storchous is an experienced lawyer with over 22 years of professional experience in the field of forestry and environmental law. As a member of the Ukrainian National Advocacy Association and the Public Council at the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine, Oleh has demonstrated his expertise in the legal aspects of forest management and protection. Oleh's extensive experience includes serving as an Investigator at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a Prosecutor, and a legal advisor to state forestry enterprises. He has been actively involved in various national and international programs related to the forestry sector, contributing to the development of analytical reports, draft laws, and bylaw proposals to improve the legal framework and law enforcement practices. Throughout his career, Oleh has authored and co-authored several publications in the field of legal liability for forest legislation violations and the prevention of corruption. His expertise and contributions to the development of forestry legislation and law enforcement practices make him a valuable asset in the field of forestry and environmental law in Ukraine.