A Symbolic Planting on Remembrance and Reconciliation Day

On May 8, Remembrance and Reconciliation Day, when the celebrations ended, ATO veterans planted 100 seedlings of a tree unique to Volhynia – the paulownia – in the village of Garazhda, Lutsk district.

The creation of this forest area, which will symbolize memory, reconciliation, and at the same time the continuation of life for future generations, is a joint initiative of the deputy head of the State Forest Resources Agency, Volodymyr Bondar, the head of the regional state administration, Volodymyr Gunchyk, and the head of the Volyn Regional Forestry and Hunting Administration, Oleksandr Kvatyrko.

Planting forests together with representatives of the authorities, business, the public, and schoolchildren in Volyn has long been a good tradition. This year alone, 11,500 Volyn residents joined in planting forests in the region as part of the “The Future of the Forest is in Your Hands” campaign. Volodymyr Gunchyk himself is planting a forest for the third time.

“We will ask foresters to put up a sign here stating that this area was planted on May 8, Remembrance and Reconciliation Day, by veterans of the anti-terrorist operation. It was created in memory of the heroes who did not return from the war. For a better future for those who live here,” said Volodymyr Gunchik.

A Positive Experience Despite the Weather

It is evident that the event left a pleasant impression on the cyborgs themselves. Despite the rain, the work was carried out actively and accompanied by jokes that this forest would grow particularly quickly and be extremely powerful.

Interestingly, all these jokes have a very real basis. After all, the paulownia seedlings presented to the Volyn residents by representatives of Pavlovnia Group Ukraine, is truly unique. It is currently a trend in the wood processing industry and bioenergy. After all, in a short period of time—only 5 years—it grows to 15-20 m, and after cutting, it regenerates to its previous size in the same period. The tree is resistant to frost and pests and is suitable for making furniture and biofuel.

Private businesses have already planted 250 hectares of land in Ukraine with paulownia. Volyn—specifically, the state forestry enterprise Volyn Forest Selection and Seed Center – is the first experimenter among the enterprises within the structure of the State Forestry Agency.

Economic and Environmental Outlook

Volodymyr Bondar notes that this crop can serve as an alternative for restoring land that will be recultivated after damage by illegal amber miners. In addition to its environmental component, it has good economic indicators. With the help of paulownia, it will be possible to create technological forests in Ukraine.

It has long been no secret that civilized society is gradually moving away from fossil fuels. They will have to be replaced with wood. In order not to destroy our ancient forests, we must create an alternative. Only fast-growing trees can be such an alternative. This site is a kind of pilot project. We have to see for ourselves how practical it is,” said Volodymyr Nalkovych.

First Deputy Head of the Volyn Regional Forestry and Hunting Administration Viktor Sakhniuk emphasized that for Volyn, which is the first to launch such a project, it is not only a great honor but also a huge responsibility.