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N 6 (February 1998)
Dear friends! We apologize for a long term break in Forest Update publishing due to technical reasons. But right now we overcame the problem and are eager to inform you briefly on everything forest related in Russia. Although some events occurred during the period of silence, the whole scene remains almost unchanged - people struggling to preserve their forests -- and authorities, trying to sell these forests off. We are still waiting here for your news and comments. Letter to Victor Chernomyrdine in attempt to save Russian forests In the midst of December environmental NGOs and groups of concerned citizens brought up in a suit against Russian government The subject was transfer of the first group valuable forests into non-forest territories which meant destruction of these forests. Only through year 1997 as large as Malta territory of forests were destroyed. Tamara Zlotnikova, State Duma environmental Committee Chairperson was to present the suit. The first court session is to happen on February 13. Meanwhile Russian environmental groups are campaigning for the sake of Russian forests, and right now signatures under the letter to Russian premier are collected. Among all, the letter states that if current forest policy continues, Russia in some 10-15 years will loose majority of its most valuable forests. The level of law respectance by officials shows Mr. Shubin, head of Russian Forest Service interview published in Lesnaya Gazeta (The Forest Newspaper). Addressing the lawsuit issue he said "Hopefully the Court will bring out a decision supporting the Russian Federation Government policy on the issue". It is quite clear that many Russian official see courts as a Government instrument rather than justice defendant. Citizens for forests sake As an example of active population position Tomsk forest case should be mentioned. Tomsk citizen Igor Kuznetsov together with local Environmental Law Center won the suit against regional authorities. The suit was for defense of his constitutional right for healthy environment and against clearcutting of valuable pine forest. Sikhote-Alin virgin forests sold to bad reputed Malaysian company Malaysian company Rimbunan Hidjau Int. won the right for the long term 49 year rent of Sikhotte Alin forests on a square of 305 thousand ha with a right for annual cut of 550 thousand cubic meters of timber. The project for forest use still has not undergone the state environmental review thus making all the procedure of rent and timbering activities illegal. The Malaysian company is known for its barbaric timbering activities in Paua - New Guinea forests. The intrusion into Sikhote-Alin forests will lead to destruction of the unique ecosystems and will ruin once solid forest massive. It also endangers habitats of rear species like the Amur tiger. The Socio-Ecological Union called on Khabarovsk kray Head Victor Ishaev to terminate the decision about lending the forest for rent. Good news form Karelia The Karelian Government decided conserve a unique nature system around Urozero lake - a source of freshwater of 15 sq.km. New protected territory is 11 km away form Perozavodsk, Karelia capital. The decision seems even more inspiring as several years before it was planned to build a chemical dye plant only 3 km away from the unique lake, and even the clearcutting of the forest were started. But now the unique ecosystem will remain unharmed.
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