A set of proposals and other materials will be sent to the state authorities of Ukraine following a roundtable discussion in April entitled ‘Steppe afforestation and forest melioration in Ukraine: problems and possible solutions’. The discussion took place at the World Bank office in Kyiv in the framework of the EU-funded ENPI Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) programme.

The organisers of the roundtable hope that it will give a boost to the improvement of the state’s policy regarding steppe afforestation. 

  

One of the problems identified pertains to the implementation of the ‘Forests of Ukraine’ national programme. The issue is that uncultivated steppe areas are often selected for afforestation under this programme. As a result, these areas lose their conservation value. Thus, the approach as to how to select land for new forest areas, particularly in southern Ukrainian regions, is a fiercely debated subject.

The meeting was organised by the World Bank, as one of the implementing organisations of the ENPI-FLEG programme, and the campaign ‘Save the Ukrainian Steppes!’. Forestry experts, agrarians, biologists and members of the general public interested in environmental issues were invited to take part in the event.

 

The €6 million ENPI Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) programme supports governments, civil society and the private sector in the development of sound and sustainable forest management practices, including the prevention of illegal forestry activities. (EU Neighbourhood Info)

 

 

ENPI-FLEG – website

 

ENPI-FLEG – news

 
ENPI Info Centre - Proposals from EU-funded forestry project considered for 2012 National Action Plan in Ukraine