The event was attended by specialists responsible for certification at the level of forestry management units and regional offices of the State Specialized Forest Enterprise (SFE) “Forests of Ukraine”, as well as observers representing mainly certification bodies. The team of experts included scientific and teaching staff from the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine and members of the public organisations – Forest Initiatives and Society and WWF-Ukraine. The purpose of the training was to deepen the knowledge and skills of forestry specialists in identifying and assessing HCVs, developing appropriate strategies and measures therefor, as well as monitoring in accordance with the requirements of the FSC Forest Stewardship Standard for Ukraine.
Photo: © FSC Ukraine
It should be noted that educational and methodological support for the implementation of FSC FSS requirements for Ukraine, in particular with regard to environmental values, is one of the areas of activity of FSC Ukraine. As for special conservation values, this concept is much broader than simply protecting endangered species. It covers six categories of values: from unique ecosystems and areas with high concentrations of biodiversity to forests that provide critical ecosystem services (e.g. protection of water sources) or are of fundamental importance to local communities and their cultural heritage. Identifying and responsibly managing such areas is fundamental to the FSC philosophy, enabling economic activity to be harmonised with the long-term preservation of our most valuable forest resources.
That is why the training is designed to help improve practical skills for the effective implementation of the requirements of this standard and to focus on systemic changes in management approaches at the managerial and production levels. As explained by Oksana Pavlishchuk, a consultant at FSC Ukraine: “The training guides participants through the specific steps necessary to implement the HCV processes defined by the FSC Standard for Ukraine. We consider documenting processes, including the use of standard forms to reflect their results, to be an integral part of an effective management system for FSC certificate holders. Ultimately, our goal is, for participants at the level of the business units they represent, to initiate the necessary improvements to the management system and forestry practices with a view to integrating environmental values into the decision-making process.”
Participants recognise that the key challenge in the forestry sector remains achieving a balance between economic interests and the need to preserve nature. As noted by Liudmyla Slominska, forest project officer at WWF-Ukraine: "Our primary goal is not to stop economic activity, but to prioritise the preservation of forests with the highest concentration of biodiversity, such as old-growth areas and riverside zones. The evolution of discussions during the training sessions — from basic questions to practical aspects of implementing the requirement of the FSC FSS for Ukraine — demonstrates growing awareness among FSC certificate holders and strengthening acceptance of such benchmarks in forestry.”
As emphasised by Taras Kharachko, head of "Forest Recovery Center" at NGO “ForestCom” and expert in environmental education: “This training is critically important as it helps professionals understand the reality: that it is unacceptable from a societal perspective to ignore special values in order to preserve and prioritise the purely economic interests of businesses. The existence of independent public databases on biodiversity makes it possible to identify special conservation values more effectively. This allows us to demonstrate the results of our responsible work to society and our partners. The training provides foresters with tools and, more importantly, a new vision for achieving a balance where nature conservation and sustainable management complement each other harmoniously.”.
Taras Kharachko explains the peculiarities of the task to Victoria Legar. Photo: © FSC Ukraine
The event was particularly valuable due to its practical focus and in-person format, which allowed participants to work directly in forest areas on the second day of the event. Victoria Legar, a certification specialist at the Carpathian Forest office, who regularly attends such events, emphasised: "The in-person FSC training sessions are extremely valuable, as we work as teams, perform situational tasks, communicate directly, and immediately gain practical experience in applying the knowledge we have acquired, particularly with regard to HCVs. Exchanging experiences with colleagues representing economic entities with different natural conditions is also useful, as we can draw each other's attention to critical elements in practical activities that might otherwise be overlooked under different circumstances.”
The second day of the training, devoted to hands-on activities in the forest areas of the Boyarka Forestry Research Station of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, became a key stage of the training. The participants conducted comprehensive field research, practising their skills in identifying HCVs, assessing them, identifying threats thereto and developing monitoring plans. Particular attention was paid to endemic, relict and rare species of flora and fauna, sites of the Emerald Network, especially protected forest areas and other HCVs. The practical part of the training demonstrated the importance of specialists' skills in “reading the forest” and identifying its hidden treasures, focusing on the field stage of implementing the requirements of the FSC FSS for Ukraine regarding HCVs.
The effectiveness of the training is also confirmed by the participants. Vitaliy Zaichuk, a certification specialist at the Podil Forest office, noted: "The training helped me better understand the criteria for identifying HCVs, as well as the approaches and specific indicators for monitoring their status. This knowledge will be shared with colleagues in 11 FSC-certified forestry units.”
Liudmyla Slominska, Halyna Domashovets and Taras Kharachko. Photo: © FSC Ukraine
Therefore, an important mission lies ahead for the training participants after they complete their training. They will be directly responsible for implementing the knowledge gained on the ground, adjusting processes related to the HCVs. Halyna Domashovets, Head of the Forest Certification Sector of the Department of Forest Management of the SFE “Forests of Ukraine”, emphasised: “Such practical training courses are indispensable, as they combine the extensive experience of foresters with scientific expertise, creating a unique synergy. It is during fieldwork that theory is transformed into practical solutions, enabling us not only to meet standards but also to develop a new philosophy of responsible stewardship of forest wealth.”
Participants and experts of the training. Photo: © FSC Ukraine
According to Pavlo Kravets, FSC National Representative in Ukraine: “The training demonstrated significant progress in understanding the concept of special conservation values and its transformation into forest management practices by certificate holders. The use of various methods of knowledge and skill formation, substantive discussions and highly professional moderation are further evidence of the genuine and sincere recognition of FSC by foresters. We will continue to support our holders' efforts to improve their competence in the context of the FSC FSS for Ukraine.”