Timber Construction for Sustainable Reconstruction in Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused immense human suffering and extensive material damage. Reconstruction is estimated to cost around USD 80 billion over a ten-year period. There is also an urgent need for repairs and temporary shelters during the ongoing conflict.

Researchers at SLU, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL), and the Ukrainian National Forestry University in Lviv will, through a new project, explore how wood can be used effectively for reconstruction and new housing in Ukraine.

— Wood is a material with many advantages: it stores carbon, is renewable, easy to transport, and can be quickly assembled into both temporary and permanent buildings. With this project, we hope to increase knowledge on how wood can be used for rapid construction in conflict situations, as well as for climate-smart rebuilding in the long term, says the project leader Anders Roos.

Building in wood have been popular in various regions of Western and Northern Ukraine but have gained importance with the war in the territory of Ukraine. 

— Wood is already considered an important building material and widely used for renovation, reconstruction and design in Ukraine. However, international expertise and collaboration is needed to implement more efficient and sustainable solutions. We see many opportunities aligned with repairing, reconstructing and providing shelters to reach the SDG’s and mitigate climate change. As well, we understand the importance to change the mindset of business and consumers for sustainable development and circular economy, says Olena Maksymets, researcher at Ukrainian National Forestry University.

The construction sector accounts for 37 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The project will identify both obstacles and opportunities related to timber use and propose solutions for sustainable wood construction in Ukraine’s building sector. Various actors will be involved in the reconstruction, and the project’s findings will therefore benefit companies in multiple countries. The combination of Swedish and Ukrainian expertise in timber construction, sustainability, and economics will also provide valuable insights for countries facing deteriorating security situations.

The three-year Formas project, “Wood for Sustainable and Resilient Repair and Construction - Integrating Expertise from Ukraine and Sweden. (WoodReconstruct), will run from 2025 to 2028.

Contact

Anders Roos, anders.roos@slu.se, +46 739840705

Olena Maksymets, olena.maksymets@nltu.edu.ua, +380(95)444-76-07