The Carpathian region in Ukraine has a population of around 6 million people and an economy primarily driven by the service sector, although agriculture, forestry, and forest products play a significant role, despite increasing environmental challenges such as deforestation, floods, air pollution, and soil erosion. The region has a low GDP per capita and high unemployment rate (10%). The post-war recovery of Ukraine must go hand in hand with the broader rebuilding of the national economy based on sustainability, decarbonization, and circular bioeconomy. The Ukrainian government has started to prepare the background for green reconstruction based on a clear long-term commitment to European Green Deal implementation. However, there are critical bottlenecks, such as low investment into bioeconomy R&D and innovation, lack of skills in sustainable wood construction, fragmented local value-added chains, and reluctance to change consumer habits. RIBES will support synergies among local stakeholders and internationally to pave the way for a sustainable post-conflict recovery in the Carpathian region, particularly regarding the contribution to CBE of the forestry and wood sectors.

The Consortium Partners acknowledge the difficulties our Ukrainian partner might encounter, will persevere in offering its maximum support. Relevant tasks will be implemented with maximum flexibility to allow for either desk-based or in-situ activities, with a predominant focus on strategic and forward-looking governance solutions.