Enterprises of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine sold 472,800 New Year trees in 2018 for UAH 32.8 million, Director General of the forestry innovative and analytical center of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine Viktor Melnychenko has said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
He said that the average price of one tree was UAH 69.
“With this level of sales, enterprises of the State Forest Resources Agency grow about 15 million trees. Thus, there is no harm to society or the environment from production of trees. At the same time, the market potential is much greater: about 10 million trees, if we assume that Ukraine has 40 million people [living in the country],” Melnychenko said.
He also said that in recent years, the State Forest Resources Agency has grown more trees in pots.
The area under New Year trees (spruces, pines, firs) of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine exceeds 5,000 hectares, Viktor Melnychenko, the director general of state enterprise Forestry Innovation Analytical Center, has said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine. “The New Year campaign has already started – wholesale buyers are starting to buy Christmas trees from about the beginning of December. Prices have not changed much from year to year – the wholesale price is UAH 60-70 per running meter”, he said.
According to Melnychenko, the sellers later pass unused trees to zoos for animal feed, while used ones are processed for fuel.
He also noted that Forestry Innovation Analytical Center has developed an application for Android software – yalynka.info – to verify the legality of a Christmas tree origin. The application can be installed for free from Google Play Market. It allows checking the Christmas tree on the individual number on the label (plastic screed) and the self-adhesive label. The tag and the label deteriorate when removed and, accordingly, cannot be used again.
As reported, state forestry enterprises plan to sell about 500,000 Christmas trees this year.
