Ukraine's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources plans to set up a special working group to identify areas of self-generated forests. The move is part of a broader effort to protect and preserve the country's natural resources. The working group will identify and assess land that has become self-forested, i.e. areas where trees have naturally grown without human intervention.
The initiative was supported by the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management. The Committee recommended that self-forested areas be included in the forest fund of Ukraine, which would allow these areas to be protected and managed as part of the state forest resources by law. This could have significant benefits for environmental sustainability and biodiversity.
According to the plans, the Ministry is to report to the Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management on the results of the newly created group's work in three months. The report will allow to assess the progress in identifying the areas of self-deforestation and the next steps in their management. This is an important step, as it will ensure transparency and accountability in decision-making on environmental management.
In addition, the MPs asked the Ministry and the State Agency of Forest Resources to step up efforts to potentially transfer land to the forest fund. This process may be a long one, but effective land management is key to preventing environmental threats.
The transfer of self-forested areas to the forest fund will allow Ukraine to strengthen its environmental initiatives and preserve valuable natural resources for future generations. Experts also see opportunities in using these areas to preserve various species of flora and fauna that may be vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic impact.
This initiative is also in line with Ukraine's international commitments to biodiversity conservation and climate change. The inclusion of self-forested areas in official forest resources can serve as a positive example for other countries facing similar challenges.
Thus, Ukraine is making an important step forward in environmental management, which will not only benefit nature but also contribute to the sustainable development of the economy in the long run.
