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NN 4, 5 (1997)
Dear friends! We are back from summer vacations and as we promised, there is a plenty of news on forest issues from Russia. This "Update" English version issue contains news both from No4 and No5 Russian version, so this is a double, a thick one volume. As always, we hope to hear from you it might be either opinion or news for Russian and English "Forest Update" version. Special thanks to Otso Ovaskainen for contributing to this issue and staying in touch. Good luck to you all, Sincerely yours, "Forest Update" English version Editor, Olga Berlova (press@cci.glasnet.ru) WB WORKSHOP An intermediate workshop on sustainable forestry project preparation was held on August 14-15 in Moscow. The following reports were presented and discussed: "pilot System of Norms and Regulations of Forest Sector" (Norvegian consulting firm NFG), "Pilot System for Forest Sector Informational Provision" (English firm "natural Resources International"), "Pilot Strategy of forest protection and conservation" (NFG), "Federal and Regional Principles and norms for Sustainable Forestry Practices" ("Jozef Weber Engineer Concey", Luxemburg), "Precision of the Timber Market" ("Jaakko Perju",Finland). In the following speeches the Expert Council members expressed serios concern upon the quality of presented papers. None of the reports was presented in complete volume. Frequently their contents didnot meet the technical tasks. The few suggestions that cuold make a base for developing credit projects were characterized by disconnection to significant Russian experience in the field and ignored contemporary situation in Russia. The economical component was also ignored. Proposals were poorly coordinated and agreed. The regional representative expressed their firm intention to improve considerably work of consultancy firms andcoordination of their work with locl experts. The project directors presented WB position. According to the last information, in connection to growing public concern with the forest conservation and sustainable forestry problem, the project falls within WB priority areas, and from now on special attention to project development would be paid. There is also a preliminary activities calendar which can be recieved on request. TALKS WITH TIMBER INDUSTRY CONTINUED Another Russian timber industry representative - "Ladenso" initiated meeting with Russian NGOs Forest Club. In the meeting on 18 -19 of August also participated representatives of ENSO group - Ladenso large stock owners and Greenpeace Finland. "Ladenso" is one of the Russian enterprises joined the moratorium on logiing of "potentially old -growth forests". Part of these forests are situated onthe territory of long term rent of "Ladenso". All meeting participants expressed discontent about how the official inventories are going on. The meeting outcome was signing memorandum by Russian NGOs Forest Club and "Ladenso" on joint inventories of the forests within "Ladenso" rented area. In the memorandum parties noted the wil to speed up the joint inventory process and will to make work transparent for any interested side. "Ladenso" recieved Russian NGOs Forest club developed forest inventory criteria. By September "Ladenso" were to present their suggestions on methods and criteria, in case of agreement joint inventories may start this year. KARELIAN CASE STILL OPEN Controversial news are coming from Karelia, which oldgrowth fate we have been following closely. As we all remember, in April a "wild" Finnish timber company Vainionpaa was caught in the very heart of future Kalevala national park. After this scandalous event in June Karelian Premier Stepanov met Russian NGOs Forest Club representatives and made a statement on the importanse of Karelian old-growth and that for inventory period all loggings would be stopped. On August 25, V.Stepanov issued a decree on reservation of an area of 114 800 hectares for the Kalevala-park and in connection to forest inventory. In this area loggings and road construction are not allowed.
Kalevala, Vuonninen: kvartals 129, 153, 154, 157-160, 176-186 But few days after the news broke out, we recieved a word from Karelia that loggings are continued. According to Dmitry Rrybakov (Karelia Greens) and Otso Ovaskainen, around kvartal 173 (Kostamus, Vuokkiniemi), inside the border zone, there was a logging of some Finnish company (Vainionpaa?) during this summer. It was about 8000 cubic meters, that makes something like 40 hectares. It is probable that they will drive this wood to Finland directly via the old Raate-road. The logging area is included in the "official plan" and in Stepanovs cur- rent decision. Three companies are having a license to use this road. These are Keski-Lapin puu, Kainuun sahko and Vainionpaa. There is a discontent shown from local people. There was a following poster found on the wall of Karelian Academy of Science building.
Greenpeace! LOGGING MORATORIUM IN KARELIA September 18 - we recieved news from Otso Ovaskainen that MoDo Skog will join the logging moratorium in Karelia on the same conditions as the finnish companies ENSO, UPM-Kymmene. UNIQUE CAUCASIAN OLD-GROWTH FACES THREAT OF DESTRUCTION For about month now in Maikop (Adygeia of Russia) is lasting protest campaign by greeens against loggings in unique old-growth forests around Tkhach mountain. The Bolshoi Tkhach is situated in Krasnodarsky Krai of Russia and Republic Adygeia of Russia. Most of these lands are untouched by human activites. In the end of 80s full scale unregulated commercial loggings had started in the oldgrowth damaging the unique ecoasystem. It was planned to cut through the whole district and the road construction for transportation had started. The road was never completed however and as the loggings continued large amount of timber was left in vain. In 1995 Commission formed from governmental representatives including the Adygeia Republic Forest Committee, academics and NGOs admited that the Bolshoi Tkhach Mountain district is a unique nature comlex and that a specially protected territory should be established there. However afterwards the Forest Committee changed its position and through winter of 1996-97 commercial loggings surged ahead. Noe theu are touching the very unique places. The protests from public made authorities to prepare papers for establishing protected territory of nature monument, but according to environmentalists experts, the territory of 2000 ha do not provide for conservation of this nature complex. According to Adygeia environmentalists who started the campaign for Bolshoi Tkhach nature protection only the status of landscape resreve will prevent these unique forests and whole ecosystem of the place from degrading. GREENS AT FORESTER'S MEETING Russain NGO's Forest Club representatives were invited to Moscow region foresters' meeting. One of the hot issues discussed there were restriction on forest use within specially protected territories. Several speakers accused nature protection organizations of misunderstanding the true situation, however from private conversation became clear that number of foresters see NGOs rather as partners and not as enemies. OFFICIAL INFORMATION In 1998 Moscow will host International Environment Day. The relevant paper was signed by Premier Chernomyrdine. Federal enteties recieved an order to start preparations. ROSLESPROM WILL BE PRIVATELY OWNED By Decree of RF President state forest industry company "Roslesprom" will be transformed into open stock corporation. Right now it's impossible to predict the consequences of this event. FIRST GEF WORKSHOP IN RUSSIA September 9 - 10. The forest GEF workshop on small and medium projects was held in Moscow. It was conducted jointly by Socio-Ecological Union and Environmental State Committe. Visiting GEF CEO and Chairman Mohanned El-Ashry stated that small and medium sized projects are aimed to broaden NGO participation in GEF programs. GEF is working for 3 years in Russia and has following programs there: Black SEA International Project Greenhouse gas emissions assesment project Phasing out Ozone Destructive materials Energy project in Vladimir Right now Biodiversity Conservation Project is launched and special attention is paid to Sustainable Forestry project. El-Ashry while meeting NGOs emphasized that GEF is different from development agencies because it serves as catalyst for international cooperation. On a national level it follows national priorities put forward by the country. So every project presented to GEF should fall within the national priorities. But who and how will define if NGO projects conform with national priorities? The Socio-Ecological Union position is that a Council working in a transparent and democratic way consisiting of NGO, official and other representatives.
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