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N 2 (July 25 1997)
Dear friends! This is our second issue and it has couple of good things about it. First, the news came also from other CIS states - so informational space of Update is growing. It also has some additional E-mail contacts - it means that if you are interested in additional information you should address to these people. We also hope that this bulletin issue will help unique juniper forests of Nothern Tajikistan (read UNIQUE OLDGROWTH JUNIPER FORESTS USED AS FIREWOOD). NGOs there need your ideas and suggestions on rapid introduction of alternative energy sources before ALL juniper forests are gone. Juniper is one of the most valuable tree species itself, but for Tajikistan ecosystem juniper forests are crucial. We are waiting for your special news for Russian and English version of Forest Update. Sincerely yours, Forest Update English version editor, FEDERAL NEWS
Another attempt to save amur tiger All major activities are to be completed by 2003, including creating Anuysky zapovednik and broadening of existing Sikhote-Alinsky and Lazovsky zapovedniks. National parks "Kema-Amninsky", "Verkhneussurisky", "Sredneussurisky" and number of federal reserves are to be established. The scarcity of funding makes to doubt the success of the program, especiall y it concerns measures against poachig. Its not only funding - rangers team "Tiger" is funded majorly by international community, but also legal matters - because courts are not interested in handling cases and liability for poaching doesnot meet the case seriousness. We also have an example of program which failed completely -- "Save the Forests from Fires", because Government gave only 3-5% of funding needed. KARELIA
First results of independent forest inventory
The investigation showed that Kalevala area is still one of the most valuable forest areas in Karelia. The selective cutting started in 70s of XIX century did not alter significantly foerst dynamics and structures. Major changes were brought by forest fires - (major ones were 3-4 in the century). Mostly affected by lower level fires are areas neighbouring former large villages. The central part fire dynamics were unchanged in the last several centuries. But even the most affected areas are generally stable and the age structure shows that these forest are capable of recivery for unlimited period of time. There are no signs of deterioration. This differ the Kalevala from the Southern and Central Karelia forests formed at the clearcut areas. The situation is worse in the areas used for resin extraction and treated by chemicals. In the finished cycle areas the pine deterioration is up to 10-15%. But the deterioration at the areas with unfinished cycle is only little above average. The resin extraction was stopeed only 4-5 years ago. Even in the most damaged forest areas stabilisation in the next 10 years should be expected. The last 3-4 years of finnish logging lead to almost fragmentation of 2 valuable forest massives. The continued loggings may lead to total Kalevala fragmenting. It is also important to staress that the loggings occured near the most valuable for recreation areas. The expedition was not allowed to investigate the area close to Russian - Finnish border because of buerocratic procedures.
Corrupted forest industry system is the cause of economy crisis, not
green activities
The "Pyaozersky kompleksny Lespromkhoz" newly elected director Ivan Fedchik claimed that one of the main causes of enterprise bankruptsy were green activities. According to "Severny courier" newspaper, Fedchik was one who supported famous Karelian Premier's Stepanov letter to Russian government calling to stop greens in Karelia. "We must show red light to greens, otherwise we will soon live in green zone but jobless and hungry". However, the prosecutors investigation identified the other main cause of economical problem: the lack of government control over the forest industry in the republic. Since 1993 to 1996 none of "Pyaozersky kompleksny Lespromkhoz" shareholders had control stock so the whole policy was up to Director Board of the main shareholders. But in fact it gave wildcard to the "Pyaozersky kompleksny Lespromkhoz" director. The product output was decreasing through 1996, salary payments to ordinary workers had been delayed regularly, but director_s salary was growing. The manufacturing costs were growingalso. Special attention should be paid to the fact that trade was done through "Rossyiskye Lesopromyshlennyky" (Russian Forestry Manufacturers) for commissional payments though enterprise had direct contacts to consumers. "Rossyiskye Lesopromyshlennyky" currently owe to "Pyaozersky kompleksny Lespromkhoz" 1,7 billions of roubles. "Pyaozersky kompleksny Lespromkhoz" tax debt to government is 5 billions of roubles. Due to all this facts the old director was dismissed and Fedchik was elected. Before his election he was "Rossyiskye Lesopromyshlennyky" employee. Bringing up the conclusions on the necessity of stronger government control over forest industry prosecutor dod not even mention greens as problem cause.
Contact: Dmitry Rybakov, E-mail: rybakov@greens.karelia.ru
What they say...
In his interview to "Lesnaya Gazeta" (The Forest Newspaper) on 22.07.97 Finnish General Consul in ST Petersburg said: "It is surprising amount of information international environmental NGOs are operating with. It is quite possible that they are bound to our competitors". So officials still dont believe that such amount of job could be done for just environment sake... But this claim is good news anyway - it means that our actions are comparable ore even exceed those of industtry and officials. On the other hand, why dont these mysterios and mighty competitors give us some LandRovers and at least couple of helicopters for forest inventory so we dont have to walk hundreds of kilometers with heavy backpacks. TADJIKISTAN
Unique oldgrowth juniper forests used as firewood
Total annual forest growth is 4 times smaller than amount of wood taken for heating and energy needs of local country people. Annualy more than 10 thousand ha are deforeted. These forests are unique for their nature diversity and also they yiled water for the dry season. They keep disasters like landslides, snow avalanches and dirtflows away and prevent soil deterioration. The wild beauty of juniper forests are remarkable - in tajikistan juniper forms a tree about 30 m high. Currently officials in the region are trying to solve the problem through fines and prohibitions without removing the cause - energy scarcity. Local NGOs are trying to deal with the problem the other way. Representatives of Association of Scientific and Technical Intelligencia (ASTI) are promoting the use of alternative energy sources like solar batteries made available by local plants. The problem is that the plant doesnot produce solar batteries in amount that can meet energy needs of the region. Northern Tadjikistan mountain forests fate now depends on whether the energy supply for montain settlements would be solved. ASTI contact: alisher@asti.khj.td.silk.org UKRAINE
Commercial loggings destroing Rostochie zapovednik
The deputy director of Rostochie discovered that zapovednik's forest guard is using protected area for commercial logging of the most valuable trees: pine, oak and beech. The loggings were conducted under the cover of sanitary loggings. But even those are prohibited in zapovedniks under the law "On nature and protected areas of Ukraine". The commission formed to investiogate this unprecedented violation reportea more than 100cb m logged illegally in two months. It also stated that logging could not be considered as a sanitary because only healthy trees of commercial values were cut while the dead and ill trees reamined on stand. The commission decided to stop all the loggings withtin zapovednik and brought up the conclusion that sanitary loggings were not scientifically approved. But the point is that zapovednik is somewhat different from the forestry enterprise so no loggings should happen there.
Contact: Grinyuk Yuri, E-mail: grinrost@forest.lviv.ua,
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