Forestry reform in Ukraine remains an important issue on the agenda, but unfortunately, corruption risks have not yet been eliminated. One of the key aspects is the internal conflict of interest between the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" and the State Agency of Forest Resources of Ukraine. This conflict arises from different approaches to forest management and leads to undesirable consequences.
The main problem is that, despite attempts to separate regulatory and economic functions in the forest sector, the conflict of interest remains unresolved. "The SFE is responsible for economic activities, while the Agency performs regulatory functions. Theoretically, this should reduce corruption opportunities, but in practice the situation remains complicated.
The existing division of powers often faces implementation problems, allowing old corruption schemes to persist. For example, the lack of transparency in tender procedures, control over land resources and logging are areas where corruption risks continue to exist. For example, there have been cases of local officials manipulating procedures, making it difficult to fight corruption.
Administrative constraints that exist in the current forest management system add to the complexity of the fight against corruption. The Channel 24 report, citing an analysis by the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC), shows that the need to remove these barriers is critical.
Today, a number of mechanisms and regulations are in place to reduce corruption risks. However, their implementation often faces difficulties due to different interests and conflicts between the SFE and the SAFR. These institutions have different visions of priorities and programs, which makes it difficult to coordinate their actions.
Further efforts are needed to create clear rules of the game that would reduce the risks of corruption. This includes increased transparency, independent audits, and the use of technology to track and control the tree stock. An effective environment for transparent tenders and fair distribution of resources should be created.
Analysis of the current situation indicates unsatisfactory results of forestry reforms. The need for further changes in the forestry sector is evident to reduce corruption risks and improve the efficiency of forest management.
Successful reforms will require joint efforts of the government, civil society and international partners. Only by changing approaches and ensuring transparency at all levels of government can real change be expected. Specific steps are needed to improve the legal framework and strengthen control over the implementation of established laws.
It is also important to improve accountability mechanisms and establish harsh penalties for violators. Only such a comprehensive approach can change things for the better and ensure the preservation of Ukrainian forests for future generations.
