Published by Russian NGOs Forest Club
and Socio-Ecological Union Informational Coordination Center
N 29 (november 1998)
FOR RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, LAW DOES NOT EXIST
A letter directed at the Socio-Ecological Union was received from the Head
of the Secretariat of the presidium of Russian Supreme Court, T. A. Amelina,
with the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Court of 23 September 1998
in which the decision Russian Supreme Court on 17 February 1998 concerning
the lawsuit of Zlotnikova T.V. and a series of organizations acknowledged
the inactivation of the directive from the government of the Russian
Federation concerning abolishment of Forests of group one and the matter of
new court consideration.
In the next issue we will try to acquaint readers with commentaries from
lawyers, ecologists and possibly, foresters.
SANITARY LOGGINGS SEEM TO BE PROFITABLE... IF YOU DO IT THE RIGHT WAY...
Forests of the first group (subtundra forests, restricted and protected
zones along rivers and roads, along lake shoves, green zones, nature
protected area and others) form more than half (67%) of the forested areas
of Murmanskii oblast and are in the jurisdiction of Russian Forest Service.
Due to the Profounds Crisis of The Industrial Forest complex, resources of
the Forests of the first grouo were often desired.
On 11 October, employees of the Kolskii Region Ecological information
center "Econord" recorded the felling of nybrid spruce and pine trees in the
green zone of the city of Apututa. The cleaning was carried out with the use
of chainsaw and trailers. It was decided that the felling would be called
"Selective Sanitary logging" by the Murmanskii geological exploratory
expedition with permission from Kirovskii forest management. It was
immediately obvious that the felling turned the character of the area upside
down, it did not result in its primary purpose. With the alosence of pine
the area was left ecologically weak and sick.
On October 14, throuth the initiative of "Econord", ecological inspectors
were called into the area that had been logged. The findings in inspectors
confirmed that the logging nolated active regulation. On October 26 A.F.
Zumin, head forester of the Oblast, was given the findings. He promised to
quickly bring about and loan logging.
These are not the first violations of regulations in the territory of
Kirovskii forest Managment. In Spring 1997 a Public Ecological organization
brought out information of the felling of trees in the protected nartially
tundra forests in River valey of the Tyliok. It is interesting that logging
occured there. Logging was halted on result of quick interference from the
forest management of the Murmanskii Oblast. Continued destriction of forest
in the green zone of the city of Apatita shows that in the past half year
of forest managment by Kirovskii forest management, the attitude towards
forests of the first group has not changed. It is necessary to also note
that similar notations are now appearing in other forest management areas of
Murmanskii oblast.
BASHKIRIAN PRESIDENT CREATES A MONUMENT TO HIMSELF... ON BEHALF OF NATURE...
In August 1998 The President of the Bashkortostan Republic, M.G.
Pakhumova, liquidated Minsitry of Emergency Situations and ecological
safety. This began the construction of the Ushtyganovskii reservoir. The
Reservoir damned the White River (Belaya) where it left the Mountains. Due
to economic factors, the project became even more large Scale - the
construction of three ΓέΡ to form a cascade is being planned. The
consequences will be the flooding of 80-90 kilometers of land, plus dams,
plus communication will be the complete destruction of a unique area of land.
Here is the basic project for construction of the Uomagyziinskovo
reservoir. The official version of the situation is that there is a lack of
water, especially during the drought season which disrupts the normal
working order of the coastal pump stations. The planned objective is to
solve 10 % of the problem by build 3 dams on the White River. The dams will
hold around 2 cubic kilometers of water and water will be gradually released
during drought season, raising level of river and increasing supply of
downstream water. Moreover, the dams will be built as hydroelectric dams and
will create 127 million cubic volts/hour. However, hydroelectric power is
not the main reason for the dams.
One of the main problems is water quality. In the upper section of the
river, the city of Beloremsk causes 33 cubic kilometers of unclean runoff
per year, this volume could cover the area of the cascade of dams 16.5 times
each year. During a period of drought (when river level is low), there will
be concentrations of various dirty substances which will be released down
the river. This will have a negative impact on all of the downstream cities.
After the August 1998 re-election of M. Rakhimov the liquidation of
Ministry of Emergency Situations and Ecological safety took place. Part of
nature protection functions (like control of specially protected
territories) were passed to the Ministry of Forest Management.
During the economic crisis it remembered that runoff of the White River
needed to be regulated. Construction of the project was begun, even though
it would cost the Republic a minimum of 3 million dollars. Additionally, the
forest industry received an area of more than 80 cubic kilometers of old
growth. All of this appears to be rather corrupt.
Work had begun by September. Already 1/3 of the width is built. The river is
about 20 m across. Construction has caused the destruction of many bird
nests, including nests of birds listed in The Red Book. Construction should
be finished by Dec. 1998.
THE PRICE OF GREAT CONSTRUCTION
If they dam the White River, the list of paints of interest that would
disappear would be extremely long. The costs would not only affect the White
River, Bashkortostan Republic, or even just Russia. It would affect Europe.
In this territory lies Bashkiria national park, Shylgan - mash wildlife
reserve and over ten natural monuments. This territory is key to the
worldwide study of ornithology and claims "Bashkirskii Ural" and area
proposed to be a zone protected by UNESCO.
But, there is not a local population to object to the project. If there are
not any demonstrations made by people, the project will go on.
POTATOES INSTEAD OF CENTURIES OLD GARDEN
Express-Information: Alarming News From The Mountain village Aibga
The firm "Megalux" and Sochinskii National Park are converting the area
around the Mountain village Aibga into a wasteland. This year, under the
guise of Sanitars cutting, a sacred circassion oak grove was felled. Also,
200 old pear trees surrounding the village of Aibga. The Pear trees were one
of few things that supported the existence of the villagers. Continued
cutting of the surrounding forest will lead to hopelessness for the peoples
lives.
FOREST FIRES HEAT STATE DUMA
The State Duma of the Russian Federation is worried about emergency forest
fires. The Duma is mainly worried about the absence of financial means to
extinguish the possibilities of Forest Fire in Habarovskii administrative
region and Sakhalin oblast. State Duma recommended that the Federal
Government of the Russian Federation quickly examine and accept the program
for "Protecting forests from fires in 1999-2005" and that it pays for the
program through the budget of 1999. The resolution was passed on 21 October
1998 and sent for examination to the Federal Government of the Russian
Federation.
Fighting Fires is especially important in populated and open regions.
Effective ways of fighting fires must be considered by the experts. There
must be multiple plans for fighting fires and a future stable budget of 200
million dollars should halt any complaints about a lack of financial resources.
CERTIFICATTION IN PROGRESS
On November 12-14 in Petrozavodsk the first major conference for
"voluntary certification of forest management" was held. Representatives
from Russia`s forest sector, foreign officials from import businesses, a
spokesman form All World Bank, and representatives from Russian and
international non-governmental organizations attended.
Voluntary certification of forest management according to the system of
Soviet Forest Guardianship uses the largest amount of trust between
Ecologist and consumers. An international Non-governmental Organization
originally developed Soviet Forest Guardianship by looking at all sides
involved: producers, consumers, the public and the area.
The participants presented different proposals for the development of the
process of forest certification and exchanged opinions.
The conference accepted a whole series of resolutions.
SOME GOOD NEWS - "Vostochny" RESERVE WILL BE CREATED, HOPEFULLY
Not long ago, "Forest News" announced a public campain with the purpose of
pushing for the creation of zakaznik (protected area) "Vostochny" ("East")
in the Smirnihovskii region in Sakhalin oblast. Today there is hope that
reserve will be organized.
The mayor of Smirnihovskii region, N.I.Kozinskii signed a decision about
creating a state supported regional complex "East" (proposed area of 72166
hectares) on November 3, 1998. The boundaries are in agreement with the
Director of Pervomaiskogo forest management on land which is planed to be
protected territory.
Additional information: "Ecological watch of Sakhalin"
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