The forestry sector reform promises many changes in the lives of Volyn foresters, but leading employees remain in their positions, and the new branches have the same structure as the old forestry units. Oleksandr Kvatyrko (Oleksandr Kvatyrko), the long-standing head of Volyn forestry, was even promoted. He is now also responsible for the Rivne forestry administration.

The investigative journalism centre Sila Pravdy explained how the forestry sector reform is taking place in Volyn during wartime and what its prospects are.

At the end of 2022, Ukraine launched a forestry reform. The first step was the merger of 158 separate state forestry enterprises into one. Local-level mergers also took place.

The sector's new management promises private investment and an end to the opaque processing, extraction, and centralised procurement of timber. However, in Volyn, sector leaders are cautious about the reform, while former employees are vigorously criticising it.

Sila Pravdy spoke with people involved in the process, though not everyone was prepared to comment on the changes taking place. The directors of former Volyn forestry enterprises, now branches of the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine", refused to discuss the progress of the reform. The head of the newly created Polissya Forestry Office, Oleksandr Kvatyrko, also refused an interview with Syla Pravdy, opting to provide written answers to questions instead.

"We are not commenting on the reform for the time being. There are no obvious results or conclusions yet," explained Svitlana Dumska, press representative for the Polissya Forestry Office.

There is a view that foresters are remaining silent because they do not support many of the innovations. However, they fear open criticism so as not to lose their jobs.

Key issues:

Centralisation of management: greater efficiency or "criminal" privatisation?

Does the personnel matter?

Have the foresters themselves been consulted?

The reform is taking place during wartime

What about environmental issues?

Are major changes still to come?
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