CODE FORESTIER : ENCORE UNE CALAMITEUSE VERSION

L'ESSENTIEL RESTE A FAIRE

La Douma a voté hier une modification du Code Forestier, très insuffisante face à la complexité des défis actuels. Celle - ci ne peut être prise en considération que si elle est une première étape destinée à être approfondie et améliorée.

From the new Forest Code (2006) - a "recent" (2010)

Yesterday the State Duma passed the third reading the amendments to the Forestry Code with changes in related legislation.   This is an important step towards competent management of forests, says WWF, however, unresolved questions remain.

  In general, the amendments relate to the better protection of forests from fires, but they also touched upon issues of logging in protected forests, the management of urban forests, illegal logging and many others.  

WWF Russia took an active part in the development of amendments, some of the suggestions were taken into account when creating the bill.

  The amount of text of the amendments is comparable with the volume of the current text of the (new), Forest Code (2006), so with good reason we can say that, after approval of the bill by the Federation Council and the signing by the President, with January 1, 2011 Russia will live with the fact the "newest" Forest Code.

I passed the State Duma of the document has a number of both strong and weak points.  

By the strong points of the amendments is the fact that:

- Becomes more efficient organization for the protection of forests from fires;

- Supposed to create mechanisms for assessing the implementation of powers to the regions of forest management ( such work has been initiated by WWF and interesting results ) with the possibility of withdrawal of these powers;

- Pays great attention to reforestation;

- Authority for the management serve the public forest management entities of the Russian Federation.

However, WWF Russia notes and significant weaknesses in the "recent" Forest Code:

- There is no concept of "forest" that is still not determined the object application of the Forest Code;

- Does not solve the problem of determining the status of the former collective farm forests and forest belts are not created conditions for the fight in them against forest fires;

- Unnecessarily reduces the number of officers eligible to draw up reports on violations of fire safety in forests;

- Still are not restricted to agricultural burns - the main cause of spring wildfires;

- There are no clear provisions that establish the order and procedures for public involvement in forest management;

  - Code now provides new opportunities to carry out logging in the most valuable - protective forests for road construction and quarrying.

The "newest" Forest Code, there are half-measures: for example, is an attempt to restore forest protection, but it is not supported neither the budget nor the new frames are still not introduced the concept of "illegal logging" that tie the hands to fight this "silent fire, destroying our most valuable forests.

  "Undoubtedly, the State Duma adopted amendments to the Forestry Code is a significant step towards ensuring a modern and competent management of forests.  Nevertheless, the new edition of the Forest Code does not address many of the most pressing issues of the forest sector in Russia, remain the threats posed by fires and illegal logging.  We hope that work on improving forest law enforcement will not be on this complete and continue a productive dialogue with the public ", - says Nikolay Shmatkov, coordinator of WWF-Russia Forest Policy.

"Public Environmental Council, successfully working with FFA, it is a necessary but not sufficient mechanism of interaction of forest management with the public - the director of conservation policy of WWF-Russia Yevgeny Schwartz. - Inadequate attention to mechanisms for community involvement not only contributes to the improvement of forest management but also poses a risk of new social conflicts, such as that now grows around "Khimki forest".We are confident that the following amendments to the Forest Code are inevitable, and now made the first steps yet. "