Effective land management is not merely a logistical challenge, but a key factor for financial independence and development of a modern municipality. Indeed, land is the main source of revenue for local budgets and a foundation for attracting investment. However, due to the complicated laws and a lack of practical tools, municipalities often face obstacles to making effective use of this asset.
To help municipalities find solutions to these challenges, the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in Volyn Oblast hosted a meeting where experts could learn about practical approaches to land management. The key objective was to provide municipalities with the tools to strengthen their capacity through transparent accounting, auditing and systematic planning. Anatolii Parkhomiuk, the Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD in Volyn Oblast, noted as follows:
“We deliberately structured this meeting as a platform for experts to share their experiences, rather than as a traditional informational session. This format was well received by the local self-government bodies, with delegates from 45 of the oblast’s 54 municipalities attending the event. This suggests that practitioners need not just theory, but the opportunity to hear from colleagues who have already found solutions to similar problems”.
Speakers from leading municipalities: role models
To ensure the discussion was as practical as possible, officials from Ratniv and Vyshniv municipalities were invited to speak. Those municipalities were not chosen at random, as their experience could serve as a model or a spur to action for others, believes Andrii Pohorilyi, an Adviser on Decentralisation and Local Self-Government at the Regional Office:
“We invited officials from Ratniv and Vyshniv municipalities specifically to speak from a practical perspective. They came to share their expertise, as their land management practices are currently among the best in the field. These are people who spoke about real challenges and practical solutions they encounter in their daily work, rather than theoretical concepts. We wanted our colleagues to hear about successful approaches first-hand”.
Ratniv municipality: systematic management of the border area
The experience of Ratniv Settlement Council is particularly instructive given its geographical location. The municipality borders directly on Belarus, which creates constant tension for potential investors and has an impact on its investment appeal. Despite the objective difficulties in generating revenue in the border area, the municipality has opted for a professional and systematic approach, according to Tetiana Kosmin, the Head of the Land Use, Cadastre and Environmental Safety Department.
Today, Ratniv has a well-oiled system in place, with a fully-fledged architecture department and a professional land surveyor working in synergy. This approach enables the local authority to conduct land auctions effectively and to manage the leasing of plots in a systematic manner. The figures confirm the effectiveness of this approach, with the municipality generating significant revenue in the first four months of 2026 alone, proving that even its border location is no obstacle to tapping into internal resources for development.
Commenting on this case, Andrii Pohorilyi added that Ratniv municipality had also highlighted an issue of importance to the entire region, namely self-afforestation management: “For the northern municipalities of Volyn Oblast, this is a structural challenge that requires clear communication with the state and a clear delineation of responsibilities, as it has a direct impact on budgetary capacity”.
Vyshniv municipality: digitalisation and audit excellence
The municipality of Vyshniv highlighted the benefits of moving from paper-based reporting to digital management to their peers. Anatolii Dytyna, the Head of the Land Resources Department, explained that taking part in U-LEAD training programme had enabled the municipality to carry out a comprehensive audit of its municipal land holdings and to acquire the tools needed for their in-depth analysis.
Through on-site technical monitoring, the team created a single “land registry” and a “smart spreadsheet”, which was subsequently integrated with geospatial data. This enabled the creation of a digital map using the QGIS software. Vyshniv is now using a transparent digital tool instead of keeping manual records in ledgers, which makes it possible to keep track of lease terms in real time, file requests on time and view all available resources within a single system, thereby minimising wasted time and money.
Land as the foundation for local economic development
In conclusion, Andrii Pohorilyi emphasised that U-LEAD with Europe would continue to systematically support municipalities on land management issues. Specialised support programmes provide local authorities not only with knowledge but also with practical tools for managing their assets.
“We are seeing tangible results from our many years of work and plan to further strengthen this area. Our support goes back a long way, from integrated spatial planning projects for Duba and Shatsk municipalities back in 2019, to large-scale natural resource management efforts in 2022 and 2023 for the municipalities of Poromiv, Kolodiazhne, Smidyn, Turiisk and Marianivka.
We are pursuing this path today as well: in 2026, the municipality of Duba is focusing on land leasing, whilst Vyshniv is successfully completing a land audit. We will continue to expand these initiatives, as effective land management is the foundation of prosperity for every municipality in the Volyn Oblast,” concluded Andrii Pohorilyi.
