SoftServe and WWF-Ukraine Launch Digital Platform for Ukrainian Forest Restoration to Build Climate-Resilient Forests

LVIV, Ukraine (Oct. 21, 2025)  — SoftServe, a premier IT consulting and digital services provider, today announced the launch the Digital Platform for Ukrainian Forest Restoration with WWF Ukraine, which is an innovative online tool designed to inspire and support public, business, and governmental efforts in restoring forests based on modern scientific principles.

The platform serves as a practical guide for those committed to responsible restoration — taking into account safety, climate change, ecosystem dynamics, and socio-economic realities. It offers step-by-step action plans and science-based recommendations that are easy to understand, and answers the fundamental question: what, where, and how to plant trees.

The Digital Platform for Ukrainian Forest Restoration integrates data, scientific guidelines, and practical tools to support reforestation project planning. Through the platform, users can:

• Propose and identify areas suitable for forest restoration.
• Detailed instructions and scientific guidance on species selection and forest management.
• Estimate the carbon sequestration potential of newly planted forests over time.

The Platform was developed through SoftServe’s corporate pro bono program OpenTech. For SoftServe, this project represents another step in its commitment to environmental stewardship, complementing its internal efforts to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact. The platform team aims to expand the initiative by engaging more IT companies, research institutions, local communities, and businesses in partnership.

The Lviv region was chosen as the pilot location for the Platform’s launch, known for its active community and strong interest in sustainable forest management.

The platform is based on the principles of climate-smart and close-to-nature forestry, aligned with EU best practices. It avoids afforestation of natural areas by other valuable ecosystems (such as steppes, meadows, or wetlands), prioritizes native tree species, excludes invasive species and monocultures, and promotes the creation of diverse and resilient forests.

At the national level, this project will contribute to forming a coherent vision for forest recovery in line with the European Green Deal and the EU Forest Strategy for 2030, which recognize forests as essential allies in the fight against climate change.