The VI International Forest Industry Forum “Ukraine’s Forest Sector: Present and Future” was held in Lviv, uniting key voices in forestry, woodworking, furniture manufacturing, education and governance. Co-organized by the Ukrainian National Forestry University (UNFU), the Forum has become a vital international platform for dialogue and strategic cooperation across the forest-based sector.
The Forum convenes experts and stakeholders under the shared mission of strengthening Ukraine’s forest sector amidst the challenges of wartime and charting a path toward sustainable, European-integrated development. This year’s edition was held in parallel with the XXVI International Specialized Exhibition “Word-processing 2025”, showcasing advanced equipment and tools for forestry, wood processing, and furniture production.
With the forest industry under immense pressure due to ongoing military aggression, the forum focuses on several critical issues:
- functioning of the forest sector under martial law;
- European integration and legal frameworks;
- state support mechanisms;
- green transformation and sustainable resource management;
- certification and the introduction of resource-saving technologies.
The Forum welcomed greetings from high-level representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers, Ukrainian Parliament, State Forest Resources Agency and the Lviv Regional Military Administration.
During the Forum, Prof. Orest Kiyko delivered a presentation titled “Green Transformation of Ukraine: Challenges and Prospects”. In his talk, he emphasized the crucial question: how can Ukraine be rebuilt while moving towards sustainable development? Special attention was given to the UNFU participation in the CirCLER project and the importance of the circular economy for the Ukrainian furniture industry.
The forum clearly demonstrated that only through close cooperation among government, experts, business, universities, and civil society can advance the forest sector sustainably. As Ukraine moves toward EU integration and green recovery, the knowledge exchanged and networks built in Lviv will play a pivotal role.
