Forest sector among most corrupt in Ukraine, especially due to sanitary logging in Carpathians – WWF-Ukraine

According to Mykhailo Bohomaz, head of the "Forests" practice at WWF-Ukraine, the study highlights 12 corruption risks, though the problem extends beyond them.

Regarding corruption risks in western regions, Bohomaz specifically emphasized sanitary logging.

Every second tree harvested through sanitary logging

"According to official data, over the past five years, every second tree in Ukraine was harvested through sanitary logging. All international scandals involving Ukraine have been related to such logging, especially in the Carpathians," he noted.

Bohomaz added that sanitary logging is often used as a way to harvest timber from forests not intended for exploitation, particularly in the Carpathians.

"A significant portion of the logging there consists of clear-cut sanitary logging, which, in terms of impact—since all trees on a site are removed—or scale (some recent clear-cuts reached 50 hectares) can be even more harmful than industrial logging or so-called final felling.

Although the intensity and necessity of such measures, especially in protected or high-altitude forests, lack justification, as these forests are not meant for commercial timber production," explained the WWF-Ukraine expert.

Bohomaz also pointed out that, on one hand, the sector is heavily regulated.

"To conduct even a simple selective logging operation, regardless of the reason, one must undergo extensive preparatory work, gather stacks of paperwork and approvals, which can take years. Additionally, half of Ukraine's forests are artificial and genuinely require care, as their primary purpose is timber production for economic needs."

On the other hand, he noted, the quality of documentation often leaves much to be desired, either intentionally or unintentionally. In many cases, official documents cite reasons and indicators that differ from the reality. In protected forests, such as national and regional landscape parks and nature reserves, logging justifications often refer to reasons banned for nearly five years, like fungi growing on tree trunks.

"The worst part is that field inspections, especially in protected forests, often reveal significant violations, such as the removal of fallen trees and the designation of hollow or leaning dead trees for logging."

Forestry among Ukraine's most corrupt sectors

The forest sector ranks among Ukraine's most corrupt, trailing only customs and public procurement. Key findings from the report by state and civil society institutions include:

• Low transparency in timber sales, hindering reforms in forest management.
• Excessive discretion and inadequate external oversight create corruption opportunities.
• Current reforms have not addressed conflicts of interest within forest sector institutions.
• Formality in administrative processes enables corruption.
• Wartime restrictions on oversight and inspections have weakened existing control mechanisms.
• Large-scale sanitary logging creates opportunities for abuse.