The new draft of Russia’s Forest Law is likely to cause controversy, according to the Russian News and Information Agency Novosti.
Forests cover two-thirds of Russia’s territory and account for one quarter of the world’s total woodland.
In making modifications to the Forest Law, Russian authorities studied the experience of other countries, particularly Finland, Austria and Canada, and used best practice where it could be applied in Russia.
Valery Roshchupkin, head of the Federal Forest Agency, believes forest sector inefficiency is caused by insufficient forest exploitation.
He said: “Forest management cannot exist given the under-developed, lame duck lumber industry.
“Russia’s calculated felling rate stands at 21% of the potential volume. In other words, we fell no more than 170 million m3 out of a possible 550 million m3.”
Scarce technological equipment and a lack of production facilities have pushed the forest industry towards the raw material sector, providing rough timber to the western market.
The new law proposes to replace felling permits with a voluntary declaration which has left some people concerned that it will make it harder to distinguish between legal and illegal felling.
