Supporting the sustainable development of non-timber forest product enterprises in Russia
This publication was prepared for TRN & FERN as part of the 2008 Russia programme financed by the Ford Foundation. It investigates options and priorities for development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to support forest conservation and rural livelihoods in Russia. Report was published in May 2009.
Transition in the Taiga: The Russian Forest Code 2006 and it's implementation process
 Report published October 2008 by TRN & FERN. The Russian Forest Code, ratified 2 years ago, fundamentally changed the framework of Russian forest policy and forest management structures in Russia. The ensuing transition period has been chaotic and many parts of the new system are still not complete. This report summarises the changes, and analyses what they mean - for the taiga, for local people, and for the world.
Available both in English and in Russian.
Таежный передел: Лесной кодекс России 2006 года и процесс его введения в действие
Отчет опубликован в октябре 2008 г. Сетью спасения тайги и экологической организацией FERN. Лесной кодекс России, принятый 2 года назад, коренным образом изменил систему лесных отношений и структуры управления лесами в стране. Затяжной переход от старой системы к новой проходил крайне хаотично, и многие элементы новой системы до сих пор не отработаны. Данный отчет дает краткий обзор произошедших перемен в лесном комплексе и их толкование - для тайги, для местного населения и для всего мира.
Отчет доступен на русском и английском языках.
Summary of report:
Full report in English (38 pages):
Full report in Russian (40 pages):
EU Subsidies for Forestry Practices during the 1990s: How EU taxpayers money gets lost in subsiding the forestry sector
 This FERN/TRN report examines the allocation of public funding to European forestry programmes during the 1990s. Europe’s forests receive huge subsidies. In the 13 countries assessed, over 8.6 billion EUR of public funds were spent on forestry programmes during the period 1990-1999. Most of this money seems to go to business as usual scenarios, not to supporting sustainable forest management practices. Another big problem is that European taxpayers' money is spent on forestry measures without clear monitoring or evaluation mechanisms in place.
The EU's impact on forests: A quick guide to the basics of EU lobbying
 This is a summary of the FERN publication The EU's impact on forests: a practical guide to campaigning (to be found further down the page)
Funding Europe's Forests: How to use EU funds for sustainable forest management and nature protection
 The Rural Development Fund (EAFRD) provides the larges amount of EU money for Europe’s forests and so could contribute to improving management practices. However, for this to be so, Member States would need to allocate these funds to activities that would actively improve forest practices and conservation methods.
The new Rural Development Regulation requires participation of different stakeholders, including Environmental NGOs in developing Rural Development Programmes. So this is the opportunity for you to get involved! Your active participation is needed as without your push, the money will go to forest owners for business as usual practices and farmers.
To encourage and support you to become part in this process, FERN and Taiga Rescue Network have produced a Guide, Funding Europe’s Forests – How to use EU funds for sustainable forest management and nature protection.
Although almost all Member states have already started the development of the programmes, you can still get involved. So read the guide and see what you can do to improve the future of your country’s forest.
The EU's Impact on Forests:
A practical guide to campaigning at the EU level
 European forest campaigners can no longer ignore the role the EU plays in forest loss globally: the trade and investment agreements that impact forests; the aid spending that either supports or destroys forests; the accession of 10 east and south European countries to the EU which dramatically increases the area and quality of EU forests. Thus, in response to requests from community groups and NGOs throughout Europe, FERN and the Taiga Rescue Network (TRN) have developed this guide to approaching EU institutions and campaigning effectively at that level.
An essential tool for anyone working to influence the EU on forest issues, the Guide provides an overview of the EU, details of how EU processes work, practical tips on influencing those processes and pointers on where to get hold of critical information. Click here to read more on EU Policy.
Illegal Logging: Annotated Bibliography - September 2004
 The occurrence of illegal logging in boreal regions is on the rise particularly in the Russian Far East and the Baltic region. The purpose of this bibliography is to offer a brief overview of various global illegal logging issues and definitions. Information available concerning illegal logging is limited, there being a particular lack of general information for public use.
This report aims to bridge information gaps and provide environmental non-governmental organisations the information needed to develop efficient boreal forest protection strategies and campaigns.
For technical reasons some pdf readers will prefer the following link. Please contact info @ taigarescue.org if you have any further problems downloading the document.
Illegal Foresty and Estonian Timber Exports
 This brochure, a joint publication of the TRN and the Estonian Green Movement, aims to give an overview of the type and scale of illegal forestry occurring in Estonia today. It is estimated that more than half of Estonia's annual timber cut is harvested illegally. While Estonia's total annual cut has grown by more than five times in the last decade, very little has been done to reduce the occurrence of illegal forestry, which in 2002 cost the Estonian economy 20 million Euros.
The brochure includes background information on the historical, political and socio-economic causes of illegal forestry in Estonia, as well as an analysis of the steps needed at an EU level to help curb the trend of illegal logging and associated illegal forestry related activities in Estonia.
Trends, Friends and Enemies. . . .
 This report aims to give an complete overview of the boreal (Taiga) forest by addressing the composition and biodiversity levels as well as current threats, conservation trends and the status of Indigenous Peoples'.
The first section of the report focuses on present obvious, and underlying threats; Indigenous Peoples' rights and self determination; and the emerging certification standards.
The second section focuses entirely on boreal countries forest status. Included are reports on Alaska, the Baltic States, Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, Scotland and Sweden.
Aboriginal Experiences in Canada - Parks and Protected Areas
 This report, published in both Russian and English, from the Boreal Footprint Project and the Taiga Rescue Network analyzes how the internationally adopted principles of the World Congress on Protected Areas regarding Aboriginal rights are reflected in the design, planning and management of protected areas in Canada. The report presents three parks in Canada, established under various times, and with varied involvement of local Indigenous communities. The most innovative park combines breathtaking cultural heritage and spectacular environmental heritage and is based on a co-management agreement that respects Traditional Knowledge, environmentally sensitive
areas, and Indigenous Rights to land.
Responsible trade in the shadow of illegal logging
Swedish imports of timber and wood products from Latvia have increased considerably over the last five years, reaching  4.2 million m2 in 2001; this increasing trend in import is expected to continue. Latvian forests are high in ecological value, providing habitat to a number of threatened and endangered species. The forestry sector is also highly important to the Latvian national economy. Sweden's position as a major importer of Latvian timber and wood products in conjunction with their reputation as actors taking responsible forest management seriously, warrants closer scrutiny of the origin and impact of the Swedish import from Latvia.
Swedish timber and wood product import was first investigated by TRN and WWF Sweden in 2000, resulting in the report entitled, Towards Responsible Timber Trade? - A Survey of Actors and Origin of Timber from Russia and the Baltic States. (see below) As a follow-up investigation to this report and taking into account the problem of illegal logging in the Baltic States, Taiga Rescue Network, WWF Sweden and WWF Latvia have undertaken extensive research. The research, compiled in the following report, has sought to highlight the specifics of current Swedish imports through analysis of the level of knowledge of Swedish companies as to the origin and impact of their trade.
Developing Forest Stewardship Standards - A Survival Guide
 This guide is a practical handbook intended for all stakeholders involved in the development of FSC standards worldwide. It aims at describing in simple terms the various steps, which underlie the whole process. It includes sections on national initiatives, FSC working groups, funding, drafting of the standard, consultation, field-testing and regional harmonization. A special chapter is devoted to potential problems that may be encountered during the standard-setting process and tips to avoid them. The guide draws on the past experience of various FSC working groups in 13 different countries. Boxes and case studies from all around the world illustrate some of the concrete challenges working groups have had and the ways they have dealt with them, in the hope that it will help new working groups plan their activities and anticipate and avoid some of the problems experienced by working groups that have completed a national FSC standard.
SUSTAINABLE FOR WHOM?
 The Taiga Rescue Network and its participant the Boreal Footprint Project have produced this discussion paper on certification and communities in the boreal region. The paper contains unique case studies from Canadian and Swedish communities and we hope that the information will contribute to increased awareness on the benefits and limitations of market-based certification in relation to forest communities.
BEHIND THE LOGO
- An environmental and social assessment of forest certification schemes
FERN in cooperation with Taiga Rescue Network and a wide range of other environmental groups published this report. The publication is an in-depthcomparison of the four biggest forest certification schemes - the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Pan-European Forest Certification (PEFC), the Canadian Standards Association's Sustainable Forest Management Standard (CSA) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) - analyses the strengths and flaws of each scheme and aims to provide companies, governments and NGOs with the facts needed for informed decision making.
CASE STUDIES
- TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE SWEDISH TIMBER TRADE?
- A Survey of Actors and Origin Of Timber from Russia and the Baltic States
The Taiga Rescue Network in cooperation with WWF Sweden published this report looking at timber trade between Sweden and Russia and the Baltic States. One of the findings of the report is that exports from those countries to Sweden have increased by 70% between 1995 and 1999 reaching an all time record of around 9 million m3 in 1999. The report includes a detailed survey of the major actors and NGO-guidelines for Responsible Timber Trade.
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