Report: Forest Science and Education in Ukraine - Priorities for Action

Dear IUFRO Officeholders and Members,

Ukraine's forest sector is facing unprecedented challenges. War has impacted both forests and forestry, devastating forest areas and limiting the country's capacity to respond to associated problems. Additional pressures are posed by factors such as climate change, forest health dynamics, wildfires, and a decrease in forest productivity. To discuss the current challenges and propose solutions, a two-day Forum on Ukraine Forest Science and Education: Needs and Priorities for Collaboration was held in November 2023 at IIASA Headquarters in Laxenburg, Austria and online.

The forum, jointly hosted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), and the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP) with support from the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions, and Water Management (BML), brought together global experts to explore pathways toward catalyzing coordinated and impactful international action to address Ukrainian forest research and education needs and priorities.

Based on the outcomes of the forum, a new report, prepared by IIASA, NUBiP and IUFRO, was launched at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)'s Support for Recovery of Forestry Sector in Ukraine International Donor and Stakeholders Conference that took place at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague from 26-27 March 2024.

The report provides input on potential actions in the areas of forest science for strategy, innovation in forest education, and coordination and collaboration.  These are in line with the Forest Support Strategy for Ukraine prepared by FAO and endorsed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

Link to download the report: Forest science and education in Ukraine: Priorities for action | IIASA

Link to the event: Forum on Ukraine Forest Science and Education: Needs and Priorities for Collaboration | IIASA

Also visit the IUFRO webpage: IUFRO: Forum on Ukraine Forest Science and Education: Needs and Priorities for Collaboration / Other Major Events / Events