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N 8 (April 1998)
MAKING THE PLACE A DUMP The following piece of news is to illustrate what is going on with Russian environmental legislation abidance and overall typical situation. It also clearly illustrates the case we wrote about in two previous Updates - citizens Vs government defending forests. In Yaroslavl region near historical place Tutayev the municipal authorities decided to make a new city dump right in the place of centuries old forest, on the river Nakrinka bank. The first hard rain will wash al the waste emissions down to the river, and the all this will go down to Volga. But even before that the forest will be clearcutted. The situation gets hotter as many people from Tutayev have their summerhouses there and are obviously not inspired neighboring the city dumpsite. But currently despite their protests the site construction is going on. MORE TIMBER, LESS PROTECTED TERRITORIES In one of the previous Updates we wrote about the situation in Far East around the Upper Sukpai forest territory planned for protection being rented for timbering by bad reputated Malaysian company. The Forest Bulletin editors requested comments from RF Forest Service. The letter from FS deputy head Kuzmichev said that according to 1994 plans the Upper Sukpai forests were to become specially protected territory, bet then in favor of economic development regional expert board decided that this very social territory should be used for timbering and other territory might be conserved instead. We can only wonder what kind of expert board assessed the swap. We can also point out that environmental review was not carried out as it is required by RF laws. KARELIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS RANSOM The Karelian newspaper "Karelian review" published feature on meeting held at the end of March by Karelian Government, involving ministers and local authorities representatives. In his speech well known for his anti-old growth policy Karelian Premier said that is greens want karelian forests to be conserved, they should pay karelian people for different, non timber industry development. Unfortunately either the newspaper or Premier himself failed to mention what sum would make karelians and his premier happy. Probably, it will be enough if every western Europe schoolchild will give some of his or her pocket money for ransom to Mr. Stepanov. The action "Karelian Forest Buyout" has been discussed by Greenpeace. Well sure if this action would be organized, many Karelians will also buy out some of their forest. THE ROYAL HUNTS IN SAMARSKAYA LUKA The Samarskaya Luka Nature park was established 1985, initiated by public. But today public is deeply concerned: elks and wild boars are hunted by Kalashnikov guns from helicopters. The park director Nazarov promotes the hunts of rich and powerful in once protected park. Employees who would not abide and protested had to quit, at the same time those who would stay faithful gained enormous power. The forester who turned to NGO "The Citizen Initiative" for help received threats and then suffered damage of his possessions and land. The Samara Governor Titov once considered "green" formed commission for investigation of the violations in the Samarskaya luka park, but - what a surprise - this commission did not reveal any significant violation. THE VYBORG FOREST DIVIDED AMONG TIMBER COMPANIES The competition held for the rent right of forests on the Karelian isthmus ended by the decision of Leningrad oblast Government to give the rent right to the following companies: Vyborgsky Lesokombinat, Vilan, Winner Company, Lesnoi Komplex, Rost, Svetogorsk PMP, Yunona, Sadomik, Firo-O These 9 firms were selected out of 21 and were rated by the timber processing depth, reputation etc. The commission also offered some new, more forest friendly regulations for timbering at the isthmus. These regulation are to be considered by the governor, to whom belongs the final decision.
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