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N 10 (August 1998)
IN DEFENCE OF THE CAUCASIAN FORESTS On July 8-19, a Conference of ecological organizations of Northwestern Caucasus region took place in Maikop. The Conference adopted several declarations; some of them rose the problems of timber export from the Caucasus. The participants, after considering the situation on logging of valuable tree species in the Northern Caucasus, stated that this problem is urgent not even on regional but on federal and international levels. Starting from 1993, valuable tree species (chestnut, beech, oak, sweet cherry, maple, ash and fir) have been barbarously logged for export in Krasnodarskiy krai, Republics of Adygeya and Karachaevo-Cherkessiya. Logging penetrated even into specially protected areas--the zone with strict scientific nature reserve regime in the Sochi National Park (Akhun and Kuma rivers), the Malyi Pshish and the Beshenka River nature monuments in Tuapse raion, Arkhyzskiy complex nature reserve (zakaznik). Enormous profits from roundwood export resulted in corruption spread to various state structures, so promoting the destruction of valuable tree species. This problem is of criminal character, especially within Tuapse raion, Krasnodar krai. Here, organized crime groups are closely fused with corrupted state organs. Organs of the Federal Forest Conservation Service cannot cope with this problem because neither their technical equipment nor power allows them to withstand the organized crime. Local justice, for rare exceptions, does not execute its obligations; furthermore, there are some evidences that they patronize criminal practices. Although measures undertaken by the administrations of the Northern Caucasusian subjects of the Russian Federation were effective in part and reduced the urgency of the problem, they were insufficient. Approving of several official acts by the federal authorities aggravated this problem, because they removed all limitations on foreign export of valuable tree species. As a result, measures undertaken by local authorities are in contradiction with these official acts; this practically eliminates their effect. Removal of restrictions on wood export promotes the destruction of unique mountain forests in the Caucasus region. Beside the destructive impact on the natural environment, all measures on "liberalization" of the economics brings serious economic damage to the region, since valuable roundwood is sold much below world prices. As urgent measures, the conference proposed the General Prosecution, Federal Forest Service, State Committee for Ecology, Committee for Ecology of the State Duma and regional authorities
Contact: Andrei Rudimakha (ies@istnet.ru) AT SOCHI HAWSER On June 25, in Sochi port (hawser no.13), unloading of roundwood continued from the morning to late night. Timber was delivered by Sochi's trailers and was loaded on dry-cargo SEVGIN with Turkish and Russian flags. Exported was oak, beech and (possibly) chestnut. The dry-cargo has left on 10 am, June 26. The chief of port exploitation service Simon Mamuladze when being asked about this matter said the following "Roundwood is not exported through our port, only sawn-wood products are done!" I have photos of vehicles and the dry-cargo, where one can see roundwood but not sawn-wood materials." Contact: Semen Simonov (ecos@chat.ru) KHABAROVSK The checking of the accordance with law of renting a plot of the "Sikhote-Alin'skiy" forest fund was continued. ("Forest News" wrote about this in nos. 9 and 19.) According to information from regional prosecutor's office, the duration of inspection was elongated because no answers was done to requests.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian company transferred $100,000 for social needs of forest settlements in Khabarovsk krai. This money will be spent on purchasing medicinal equipment and special transport for delivering ill persons from far taiga settlements to a local center, ITAR-TASS reported ("Forest News" July 4, 1998, p. 1). A part of proceeds will be used for purchasing foreign equipment for timber sawing that will be installed in national Udegei village of Gvasyugi. The company Rimbunan Hidjao won a tender for logging at the area of Sukpaiskiy leskhoz the last year. It is going to start works at designated taiga plots in October 1998. One of the conditions for forest management proposed to the Malaysian party is creation of working places for the inhabitants of taiga settlements in raion and training of young persons in forest harvesting and processing professions, the administration of Lazo raion said. In the nearest future, a representation of the company will be open in the taiga settlement of Sukpai; and its specialists will organize production divisions and the necessary equipment delivery. Financial assistance to the needs of small nations and to the development of a territory where they live is also provided by the agreement with the Malaysian party.
As it became known to us, the Rimbunan Hidjao company have already sent the equipment to Russia to start operations but, at the half-way, the ships turned to Singapore. The possible reason was the economical crisis that broke out in Southeastern Asia and resulted in prices drop on the Asian forest products market and in ruining of many companies. It is now inefficient to export timber from the Russian Far East, while most of foreign forest loggers is oriented primarily on roundwood export from Russia. This stops forest logging. Until the better times. ST. PETERSBURG IS THE PLACE OF ORIGIN OF COMMISSIONS Seemingly, it was not long ago when the interdepartmental commission on inspecting forest management on the Karelian Isthmus, Leningrad oblast, has finished its work. However, in this year, the governor made a decision to conduct similar works in Podporozhskiy raion. At the present moment, there is a pause in the work of the commission. Despite the fact that Podporozh'e and the Karelian Isthmus are areas relatively different in conditions, everybody can assume right now that one of the results of inspection will be discovering of abundant violations, which are typical for the whole system of our forestry and forest management. Contact: Aleksei Morozov (willow@glasnet.ru)
July 3-20, the expedition of Greenpeace Russia and Biodiversity Conservation Center inventoried areas of weakly disturbed natural forests adjacent to Paanajarvi National Park (Pyaozerskiy leskhoz, Karelia). Before that, on July 1-3, the commission of the Karelian government chaired by its head S. Katanadov worked in Pyaozero. The commission prohibited the administration of Pyaozerskiy leskhoz to have any talks with non-governmental organizations and to anyhow participate in inventorying of weakly disturbed forests. As a result, inventory was made only by the representatives of non-governmental organizations. Results of the expedition are now under work. July 10-25, the expedition of Greenpeace Russia and Pushchino State University inventoried a forest massive bordering from the south to Kostomuksha Zapovednik (Muezerskiy leskhoz, Karelia). It confirmed that the area of the planned expansion of the Zapovednik is valuable; for the rest part of the Zapovednik, the data are processed. July 15-25, areas of potentially weakly disturbed forests in southern Karelia (Sortavala and Pyatkaranta leskhozes and the area rented by Ladenso Company, Karelia) were inspected. The results are processed; for Sortavala leskhoz, additional inventory is required. June 25-July 15, two large areas in Kem' raion (Karelia) were inventoried. The most part of the studied areas was confirmed to be of high natural value, being, for example, the habitats for many "red-book" animal species. At the same time, both areas are mostly bogged; forests occupied less than 30% area there. In autumn, proposals will be prepared on the organization at these areas of especially protected areas of the regional level (zakazniks). Contact: Aleksei Yaroshenko (forestsru@glasnet.ru)
August 4, Greenpeace Russia, the Biodiversity Conservation Center, Center for Coordination and Information of the Social--Ecological Union and Greenpeace Nordic sent an open letter to the Chair of the Karelian government S. Katanandov. It, in categorical form, described the state of the forest complex of Karelia. "...Karelia is already under conditions of the extreme socioeconomic crisis that naturally resulted from the policy of its rulers seeking the short-term benefits and are not interested in sustainable development of the Republic. One of the main causes of the crisis is the depletion of forest resources.... Conservation of natural taiga areas is not only the interior business of Karelia. Famous Russian specialists in the field of nature conservation prove the necessity for conservation of these taiga areas. It is also confirmed by several international agreements and conventions; some of them were signed by Russia. Just few such areas are left, and it is impossible to solve all the problems of dying Karelian forest industry at the cost of their logging.... For the last several years, everybody was adjusted to the opposition between the Karelian authorities and non-governmental organizations, so nobody wondered about this mater. However, never this opposition made any good to the Karelian economics. As it is seemed to us, the dying of valuable natural forests, impoverishment of forest settlements and progressive deterioration of the state of the natural environment are too expensive price for satisfaction of bureaucratic ambitions. We appeal to you to put an end to this opposition and decide on the form of participation of non-governmental ecological organizations in solving the problems related to forest management and nature conservation. As a first and quite necessary step we consider the creation of a concordant commission from representatives of the Karelian government, Pyaozerskiy leskhoz and non-governmental nature conservation organizations for solution of the ripen critic situation on northwestern Karelia."
A new series of Forest Club's field expeditions for recognizing weakly disturbed virgin forests has started. This time the ecologists' attention will be drawn to Arkhangel'sk oblast. SAKHALIN OBLAST The joint expedition of the Forest Club and "Ecological Watch of Sakhalin" has finished. During July, its participants made a long trip through main forest logging areas. During them, they met many people from various official and business organizations, fish conservation service, local authorities and committees for ecology and discussed problems with local population, whose life closely relates to forest and its richness. As it was assumed, the forest management in Sakhalin is characterized by abundant violations, which negatively affect the state of forest ecosystems as well as of fish resources reproduction and general ecological situation of rivers important for fish reproduction. Main violations that cause unvaroable ecological consequences relate to the disturbance of water-protective zones and coastal protective strips, especially along small waterways on watersheds of rivers important for fish reproduction and to logging of mountain forests and on steep slopes using cutting terrace paths for trailing. Presently, it is very difficult to cause a quick response of state control organs to particular cases of violations in forest sector. The reason of this is that our main potential partners (Committees for ecology--both local and regional--fish conservation service, nature conservation prosecution service) are not oriented to the decision of the issues of forest management and ecology. This aspect, unfortunately, does not dominate in their routine work. Besides that, according to the decision of higher authorities, Sakhalin Committee for Ecology presently reduces the amount of employees by 40%. Under these conditions and against the background of acute economical crisis and growing social tension, ecological organizations are going to continue the work, primarily, on attracting the attention of the authorities and the whole community to the problems of conservation of Sakhalin forests. Vladimir Zakharov, (forestnews@glasnet.ru) Dmitriy Lisitsyn, (watch@sakhmail.sakhalin.ru) A "SPOILED" JUBILEEUnexpected was the reaction of "Lesnaya gazeta" ("Forest Newspaper") to the press conference of Greenpeace Russia and the Biodiversity Conservation Center devoted to the pompous celebration of the bi-century jubilee of the Forest Department formation in Russia (see "Forest News, no. 23). We will cite this statement completely "As we already noticed, the public attitude towards Greenpeace Russia is very unambiguous. To a significant extent, this is promoted by its adherence to the image called by the French as "enfant terrible". Perhaps, for maintenance of this image, Greenpeace and the Biodiversity Conservation Center organized a press conference at a day when the bi-century of the Russian Forest Department was solemnly celebrated. The organizers spoke about the current problems of the Forest Service according to Lenin's principle: the best way to celebrate the holiday is to draw attention to problems, especially not yours. I have heard nothing new. The Forest Service workers, who held their congress that time, knew well about them. Greens criticized not only the Forest Service but also legislative organs. This is an example from the press release: "The 'national' legislation of the subjects of the Russian Federation creates the additional problem. The bright example of lawlessness revelry in forest industry is the republic of Buryatiya. After adoption of a local law "On Forest" and of own logging regulations within the coastal protective strip of the Lake Baikal, the unique forests are killed. According to estimates of specialists, under present intensity of cutting, virgin forests within the protective strip of the Lake Baikal will disappear in two to three years". The critic of the environmentalists was severe and just in part. However, not arguing for saying compliments to each other, I would like to notice that, in gallant old times, during wars, even cannons fell silent at holidays. Even though the reality always gives a cause to criticism, the forest should be protected by united forces. V. Markov." "FORESTS OF BASEGI ZAPOVEDNIK": THE NATURAL STRUCTURAL--DYNAMIC ORGANIZATION AND ITS CHANGE DURING THE CUTS OF THE LAST CENTURY This is the name of a new book (Yaroshenko, A.Yu., Morozov, A.S. et al., Moscow: Dialog-MGU, 1998, 52 p.). The book describes the history of management at the area of the zapovednik (Perm oblast) and presents the analysis of the influence of cuts on the structural--dynamic organization of woody and other plant layers in one of a few preserved patches of slightly disturbed dark coniferous taiga. Contact: Aleksei Yaroshenko (forestsru@glasnet.ru)
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