The agenda included a summary of the forest certification situation in Ukraine and the world. In particular, participants discussed the challenges caused by the Russian invasion, forestry reforms and recent FSC normative changes regarding the situation in Ukraine. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the key actors in the system, the area of certified forests was kept at the level of previous years. As a result, 83 branches updated information on their certified status, making possible for responsible businesses to continue purchasing certified raw materials.
An important part of the seminar was the discussion of the role of forest certification for the woodworking business. Through a short online survey, the participants of the seminar were assured that certification helps to solve current problems of the forestry sector and is highly valued by partners and customers. During the seminar, participants were informed about the results of the global survey conducted by FSC and GlobeScan. In particular, according to the results, 76% of respondents think that information on the origin of products from sustainable sources should be certified by an independent organization.
The participants also had the opportunity to dive deeper into the details of the forest and supply chain certification process and learn how partnerships at various levels and active dialogue with stakeholders can help overcome challenges in the forest management certification process.
Thanks to the informal atmosphere and open format of the event, the participants had a free opportunity to exchange their views and learn from the experience of companies that have been FSC certified for a long time.
The seminar closed on a positive note, as despite the martial law and Russian aggression, forest certification in Ukraine continues to develop, supporting responsibility and sustainability in the forestry industry.