A revised Forest Code has been submitted to the Russian government by the Economic Development and Trade Ministry. One of the key provisions enabling private ownership of forests after 15 years of leasing has been removed, following anxiety from many quarters that large scale privatisation would endanger forests. Forest ownership will now be addressed in a law to be drafted separately at a later date.
Environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been able to participate in production of the latest draft but they are still unhappy that the Forest Code contains loopholes that will allow illegal logging on a vast scale, has inadequate provisions for protected areas, and does not address the role of leskhozes, the local level of the state forest service.
Meanwhile, a familiar new head of the Federal Forestry Agency has been appointed: Valery Roshchupkin, who was director of the State Forestry Service prior to its abolition in 2002. His appointment has been welcomed by environmentalists. |
