Business discusses opportunities to increase timber harvesting

05/ 06/ 2025

Listen to online Stop   Experts from the European Business Association took part in a meeting titled “Opportunities to Increase Timber Harvesting Volumes While Complying with All Necessary Environmental Standards”, organised by the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine. The event also brought together representatives of relevant industry associations, government bodies, and wood processing companies. During the discussion, participants explored potential steps to enhance the efficiency of timber harvesting, improve forestry legislation, and further develop digital solutions within the sector. Yurii Andriiv, Manager of the EBA’s Committees, stressed the importance of aligning the positions of the business community, government authorities, and environmental stakeholders to simplify and improve the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures in the forestry sector. It was noted, in particular, that national legislation on EIA currently exceeds the requirements of the European Directive 2011/92/EU. This leads to excessive regulation, procedural delays, and consequently – to a deterioration in forest health and loss of high-quality timber. The average duration of the EIA process in the forestry sector is around 6.5 months, which may be one of the limiting factors in increasing harvesting volumes. Bringing national legislation into line with European standards would allow for a more flexible approach to determining the need for an environmental impact assessment in each specific case, as outlined in Directive 2011/92/EU. The European Business Association expresses its gratitude to the State Forest Resources Agency and the state enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” for their open dialogue and consideration of the business community’s position in shaping the development policy of the wood processing industry.

Experts from the European Business Association took part in a meeting titled “Opportunities to Increase Timber Harvesting Volumes While Complying with All Necessary Environmental Standards”, organised by the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine. The event also brought together representatives of relevant industry associations, government bodies, and wood processing companies.

During the discussion, participants explored potential steps to enhance the efficiency of timber harvesting, improve forestry legislation, and further develop digital solutions within the sector.

Yurii Andriiv, Manager of the EBA’s Committees, stressed the importance of aligning the positions of the business community, government authorities, and environmental stakeholders to simplify and improve the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures in the forestry sector.

It was noted, in particular, that national legislation on EIA currently exceeds the requirements of the European Directive 2011/92/EU. This leads to excessive regulation, procedural delays, and consequently – to a deterioration in forest health and loss of high-quality timber. The average duration of the EIA process in the forestry sector is around 6.5 months, which may be one of the limiting factors in increasing harvesting volumes.

Bringing national legislation into line with European standards would allow for a more flexible approach to determining the need for an environmental impact assessment in each specific case, as outlined in Directive 2011/92/EU.

The European Business Association expresses its gratitude to the State Forest Resources Agency and the state enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” for their open dialogue and consideration of the business community’s position in shaping the development policy of the wood processing industry.