Forest Club model projects and sites

Issue 17-18, June 2001

We have touched upon the topic of State forest control on pages of the Bulletin more than once; however, events which are taking place in the sector make us return to the subject again and again. The situation has crucially changed last year. Rosleskhoz (Russian Forest Service) does not exist any longer, which has served as a subject of our criticism for its awkwardness and excessive commercialization in prejudice of care of forests. The former Minister B. Yatskevich, which has recently been given the credit of "expansion of the Ministry”, is also out of job. New economic order comes to the country.

Reorganization of the Federal Forest Service and constituent system of forest enterprises (leskhoz) became one of the most noticeable projects of the RF Government after May 17, 2000, which aroused keen response of "forest" community. First statements of heads of the |Ministry of Natural Resources did not give an answer to the questions :How will the system live further?" We even made an assumption that ideologists of reforms and new "geological" management had simply forgotten about forest enterprises in the heat of reorganization.

However, soon everything has come to its right place. Two aspects were mentioned inn the speech by First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources Yu. Kukuev at the meeting devoted to results of Forest service in 2000.

First, Mr. Kukuev declared increase in volume of harvested timber as one of the major tasks of the Russian forestry. Meanwhile, periods, when one and the same governmental body was responsible for timber logging and for supervision over felling operations and when notorious cubic meter was above all are known in out history. Implications of large-scale over-felling of those years are still visible in a number of regions of our country.

Second, things are heading toward serious reorganization of the forest enterprise system. As far as we could understand, it is planned, that forest divisions will be responsible only for preparation and drawing up of permissive documents; whereas decisions will be taken in the regional departments. Heads of regional divisions of the Forest Service, who where present in the meeting expressed their negative opinion on the proposal - such a noise aroused in the assembly hall, that words of the Deputy Minister could not be heard. Only remarks of nearest people were heard: "Now then, it will be an end to the forest service!"

Surely, the necessity of reforming has been for beyond questions. As despite of proper statements on inexhaustible forest management, the forests has been considered only as a source of growing logs for long time, so all appeals to take into account forest environment-forming functions, its valuables and all other environmental initiatives have been taken as misunderstanding, at the best.

It seems, that top management of the Ministry of Natural resources has not conceive (at least, at the beginning) the ultimate goal of the sectoral reforming idea; moreover, it did not hurry to discuss plans of reforms with general public. So the remark of "The Forest Newspaper" is characteristic against the given background: "First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Mr. Yu. Kukuev announce a contest of better proposals on reorganization of forest enterprises". We wonder who will win the contest.

Rash movement of the forestry towards approach to timber industry made former Head of Rosleskhoz V. Shubin, who had remained silent for a long time, express his opinion and provide his evaluation of changes taking place in forest sector.

In his interview to "The Forest Newspaper" (13.02.01) he said that deprivation of forest enterprise self-dependence was one of the extremely negative measures. "Nowadays incompatibility of leskhoz activity with economic activity is declared. At the same time, Head of the RF Government M. Kasyanov signed his order to double volume of harvested timber by forest enterprises and to direct the mentioned timber to under-utilized facilities of timber industry.

Timber industrial enterprises are privatized in our country, i.e. they are in private property. So why should State service harvest timber and sell it at fixed (no doubt - less than fair) prices to private traders?... What is it if not top governmental corruption?"

Unfortunately, these statements are rather late. Reasonable statements and wise actions had been expected from the Chief Forester when he was a Head of Rosleskhoz. As Rosleskhoz had become the largest logging operator in the country when Mr. Shubin was the Head of the Rosleskhoz. Nowadays we face just a logical consequence of previous experiments multiplied by vigor and incompetence of new players. Of course, many people realized destructive nature of the way, however, nothing had been done even within the limits set by the bureaucratic system. Quite the contrary, the former management of the Forest Service diligently avoided even to discuss any issues of reforming and reorganization. Now absolutely nothing depends on former Forest service officials. But what about expressed suspicions and accusations? Well, who pays serious attention to newspaper articles nowadays? Particularly a newspaper which is published in so small number of copies as "The Forest Newspaper"? For instance, "The Novaya Gazeta" (April 17, 2000) has already written how "a man who looked like M. Kasyanov" made a fortune on Russian debts in the middle of 1990s. So what? As a matter of fact, nothing. So is it really necessary to pay attention to silence of authorities concerning interview and statements by V. Shubin?

Meanwhile, current reorganization stirred up discussions about future of Forestry. Prominent forest specialists prove each other advantages of different schemes of forest management structure and demonstrate efficiency or inefficiency of Rosleskhoz activity in figures.

Heads of forest enterprises, in their turn, focus their attention on prosaic things - who will pay salaries, what will happen to Forest Guard and so on. It is clear as they have carried out most functions and forest enterprises have been the bodies that put the forest policy in practice. The forest policy which has been the favorite subject of discussion of "forest generals" and prominent scientists. And now, forest enterprises face unforeseeable future.

Despite of differences in opinions, many people with whom we have spoken last several months or whose views have been published in newspapers agree upon one thing - the current situation in forest sector is rather difficult and even crucial. Uncertainty makes many professionals leave for other jobs. Those, who remain either expect a miracle (however, we know that there are no miracles in this world - there is nor return back to former situation), or try to resist changes and keep on fulfilling their duties.

Frankly speaking, the situation is really insulting to these people. They are entirely devoted to forests, their work, they are not willing to trade their job for any other, even more high-paid one. They are used to work within a uniform system, where everyone from a forester to the top official with embroidered stars in buttonholes called himself a forestry specialist. However, it seems that State Forest Service divided into two unequal parts a long time ago. The smaller part lives in compliance with bureaucratic rules and they are worried only about reservation of their positions. This part actually, if you would excuse an expression, betrayed those who had expected determined actions from their management.

Nevertheless, the governing body of the Forest Service at the Ministry of Natural resources also finds itself in a strange situation, as little or nothing depends upon it. Practical strategic decisions, which touches upon interests of forests and forest management, are taken in other offices.

So what should other people do in this complicated situation? There is no definite answer to the question. There is no confidence even in the fact that such sector as forestry and forest management will be in need to someone. Only one statement can be made for sure. As one of our colleagues has said, it is at least silly to live in Russia and to rely upon the heads.

It is necessary to think and act fast. Structures within regional administrations which are aimed at supervision of forest use are being established in a number of regions. These departments and divisions are mostly represented by loggers and representatives of timber processing enterprises. Thus, lumbermen come to power. And opinions on necessity of state support of timber industrial complex has become more frequent (if you remember words by V. Shubin - it is mainly private complex) - all that are links of one and the same chain.

It is relevant to mention and try to evaluate future of numerous proposals on organization of State forest control. For instance some forest specialists from the Moscow region suggested to establish Forest police with corresponding authorities. There is another interesting idea to organize united inspectorial groups with corresponding authorities and well-equipped, which will include police officers, representatives of Forest Guard and environmental authorities.

All the ideas and projects require active and broad discussion. The process of reforming and reorganization of forest and environmental services has not been completed yet, so if we want somebody to represent interests of our forests in future society then it is necessary to push our proposals hard today.

There are forests left in Russia. This valuable capital has not been wasted and sold out yet, the capital which has been saved and increased for many decades. It is possible that in future forester will not face the barest necessity of forest management, forest protective and forest planting works. Unfortunately, the fact that existing forests are given to us as a heritage of previous generations has not been taken into account in many calculations on economic efficiency of forest enterprises. However, our country has met similar alignment of forces several times. Some say: "Development goes along a spiral., so it should be like this". "A peasant won't cross until there is a clap of thunder" - other recall Russian saying.

The main task of silviculturists and environmentalists seems to be the task to get over the part of convolution associated only with logging and timber harvesting faster and come out to a normal, reasonable and indeed unexhausted forest management. Experience, knowledge and devotion to the work of these forest specialists will be required in elaboration of new regional and federal legislation and in manpower development, in establishment of specialized structures which are aimed at forest protection and care. Nowadays the most important thing is not to keep silence, try to take an active part in decision-making process, not to waste time for useless arguments and try to forecast development of the situation at least a step further.

At present numerous boards "200 years of Forest Department" along all the roads are replaced by other ones devoted to anniversaries of the mining-geological service and the Ministry for Emergency situations.