RIMBUNAN HIJAU PROJECT DEVELOPMENT COMES TO FINAL STAGE. PROTECTED AREA TO BE LOGGED.
    As we informed earlier, territory that now is being leased to ill-reputated Malaysian company Rimbunan Hijau, Upper Sukpai, is former Verkhne-Sukpaisky reserve. It was decided to transfer it into zapovednik - reserve of higher protection level, but while scientists were compiling papers necessary for that, the Khabarovsk kray Governor hasted to lease this area to Rimbunan for 49 years.
    The state environmental review of the project is to be done yet, but even today all the project looks at least confusing.
    To support decision of leasing once protected area for logging, officials claimed that 30% of the forest was damaged by fires and moth, but in reality, no one has done any study on that for 10 years now, and the one thing that is known is that forest is good and healthy enough to provide local people traditional forest use trades. So called assessment the now is the basis for lease was done on governor's order for company's attraction. It is still unknown if Rimbunan is aware of the fact that this or that way 60% of the forest that are leased to them are actually protected by state law. These are watershed, endangered specie habitats, highland forests. Thus, company will either have to violate Russian law or to get much less timber than it was promised. The timber stock available for logging is much less than declared, so it is quite possible that Rimbunan will receive more territories for logging much sooner than in 49 years.
    The right of indigenous people were also violated. The area planned for logging was declared a traditional use territory, and udege people were doing they traditional forest use there. The last community leader Savchenko, signing logging agreement, took no consultations with community members.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COVERS ILLEGAL LOGGINGS IN ADYGEY - ACTIVISTS INJURED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PROTECT UNIQUE PEAR TREES.
    Since November lasts conflict between environmentalists supported by local people on one side and commercial firm Agrodom and Sochi national Park form other.
    All development are going around almost 400 years old unique Caucasian pear-tree garden, the pride and one of the living sources of Aibga settlement people. Unfortunately, the garden is on the territory planned for agricultural development by Megalux firm for tourist complex support. The project that was given for review did not contain any mention of logging the garden down.
    To back up the necessity of loggings, firm involved Sochi national park, though the territory does not belong formally to the park. Commission set up by firm and park representatives carried out the decision tha all trees were ill and sanitary clear-cut was needed.
    This fake conclusion gave a chance for other illegal operation - the trees were then considered to be "fuel wood", which is much less expensive than commercial one, so the loggers would receive a handsome profit, paying almost nothing for logging and selling this in reality good and healthy timber for commercial prices.
    The logging that started by the end of November was stopped by activists on December 2, until the commission to review the case would be set. Nevertheless, Sochi national park made attempt to renew logging on December 27, and in tree days 60 perfect trees were felled. On December 30 radical action by environmentalists and local people was taken, and in the fight one of the activists was injured. The logging was stopped for one more time.

THE FORESTRY PROJECTS UNDER PUBLIC REVIEW
    On December 4 1998 Adygey Committee on Forestry handed over papers on Guzeriple and Kurdzhip leskhozes forestry projects to Adygey Socio-Ecological Union representatives for public environmental review. This public environmental review on forestry is setting a new precedent, as this is the first time that public is conducting review on forestry.

PEOLE UNDER THREAT OF EXTICNCTION IN KHABAROVSK KRAY BECAUSE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY FOREST FIRES
    On November 25 Greenpeace representatives presented horrifying facts of social and environmental disaster developing at Ulcha region of Northern part of Khabarovsky kray. For 5 months, starting from may and up to middle of October forest fires destroyed more than 600 000 ha of forest. Settlement became islands in the enraged ocean of fire. Luckily, no human victims were claimed by fire.
    But due to the total damage caused by fire people lost they last means of sustaining, and indigenous ulchi people were the first to suffer. Due to the crisis, people in this area came to depend mostly on forest and without urgent aid they would not survive until spring.
    As the result of negotiations of Greenpeace and Canadian Embassy for first aid supply 10000 Canadian dollars will be given, but this is obviously not enough.

REGIONAL CERTIFICATION ON ITS WAY
    November 27, 1998 - in Syktyvkar, Komi republic, second session of regional work group on voluntary forestry certification was held, gathering official authorities, business, academics, and NGO representatives. The work group is setting regional certification standards for FSC system certification, in order to introduce sustainable forestry practices. Work group, mentioning meeting in Petrozavodsk on voluntary certification, stated the official certification to be introduced by Federal forestry Service has no prospective in terms of international market as aimed to certify the logging process (the loggers) and not the way forestry is done itself (the forestry). This also contradicts Russian Forestry Code, providing for forestry certification.
    Mr. Pautov, regional group coordinator, informed session that certification firma are ready start their work, but at the moment the cost would be high as it would include certification standards development. Regional group is capable of setting such standards for the whole region, attracting different funding sources for that, including interested business representatives. Session received framework national principles and criteria for FSC certification proposed by Russian NGOs Forest Club.
    The workgroup was joined by SEU Biodiversity Conservation Center representatives, local authorities are eager to attract foreign companies like ENSO and IKEA working in the region.

ADDING TO THE WORLD HERITAGE
    Altai was added to the List of World Nature Heritage by the UNESCO commission on World Nature Heritage session in Kyoto on December 1, 1998. The nomnated area includes Altai zapovednik, Teleckoye lake, Katun' zapovednik, Belukha mountain, Ukok flat highlands.
    The major input for the nomination came from "Altai - 21 century" Non-Commercial foundation, "Katun'" TV and Radio company, Pacific Environmental Resource Center, Sacred Earth Network (all SEU members), Greenpeace - Russia, Altai University, supported by Altai Governmnet and Parliament, Global Green Grants foundation.
    Altai was fourth area in Russia to receive World Nature Heritage nomination - after lake Baikal, Kamchatka and Komi forests.

PMP SETTING GOOD PRECEDENT
    On December 17 1998 Svetogorsk PMP - one of the largest russian paper producers and situated in Leningrad oblast made an unprecedented announcement. Non-use of little disturbed forest timber no is the part of PMP policy.
    New maps prepared by SEU BCC and Greenpeace indicating last European North Russia undisturbed valuable forest became the source of information and basis for such policy. For map compiling space photographs and field study results were used. The result is 20 000 ha of undisturbed forest indicated and mapped.
    Our policy of non-use of valuable undisturbed forest timber would be impossible without this map, but today we can precisely point out to our suppliers areas we wish to preserve, said Reino

OFFICIAL OBLIGATORY CERITFICATION - NEW TAX, NEW BURDEN?
    December 28, 1998 work group on obligatory certification received Forest Club comment on the project. It was aimed to certify the logging process (the loggers) and not the way forestry is done itself (the forestry). This contradicts Russian Forestry Code, providing for forestry certification. It means that Forestry Service affiliates - leskhozes, are to be certified as provided by forest code, as they have full command over trees on stand.
    There were number of other problems, making this project totally unacceptable.
    - certification is purely technically aimed, without any consideration of environmental requirements.
    - the certification process and further control after entities certified is no open nor transparent, which gives the whole system almost no credibility
    - the project does not indicate the purpose of certification. No markets and terms of its results use are indicated, so the very paper dealed only with new tax on loggers.
    Thus Forest Club is firm on necessity of reworking the project. In case it would be adopted in present way, Forest Club will set information campaign on its contradiction with Russian law.

STATE ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL TIMBER OPERATIONS
    On January 4 Government set export taxes for oak and ash tree. Annual export amount of this timber kind is 700 000 cubic meters, bringing pure handsome profit of $100 per cubic meter. It is still unclear if the regulation will have any positive influence on the situation because of high criminal level in the business. According to information by Segodnya newspaper, only Russian - Chinese border has at least ten illegal corridors for illegal valuable timber export.
    On January 5 Prime Minister signed decree on "Additional State measures for valuable timber cutting, selling and export regulation". This decree sets higher price coefficients for trees on stand. Starting from February 15 licensing for valuable timber export start.
    Valuable timber, according to the paper, are following tree kinds: oak, beech, ash -tree and maple.

POACHERS IN ADLER - GAZPROM EMPLOYESS UNDER INVESTIGATION
    The whole case in this southern town started as detective story. The Caucasian State Biosphere Zapovednik director Nikolai Timukhin, attending one of the city offices, noticed man parking his Volga near the office. After that person took huge blood-covered axe out of the car, and legs of sumber, deer and tuor out of the trunk.
    As all animals listed are protected species inhabiting zapovednik director called for zapovednik security and milita.
    In process it was discovered that office belonged to Gazprom, and inspection of Gazprom helicopters was made. One more blood -covered axe and numerous blood stains were discovered.
    Right now the poaching fact is under investigation, and hopefully "air hunters" will not get away with that easily.

NEW ZAPOVEDNIKS IN PROCESS - FEDERAL FOREST SERVICE OPPOSITION OVERCOMED
    At the end of 1998 State Environmental Committee negotiated establishment of tow new federal reserves "Utrish" in Krasnodar kray and "Sothern taiga-fir" in Tomsk, together with broadening if Sikhote -Alin reserve borders in Primorsky kray.
    Utrish will be relatively small - only 5000 ha. But this is the last Russian preserved area of Mediterranean subtropics. Zapovednik establishment was especially important as oil pipe construction was planned in the very neighborhood of the valuable territory.
    The Southern taiga-fir zapovednik will be first reserve in southern taiga zone in Western Siberia. Rapid development is going on there so it was especially important to conserve part of the zone intact as exemplary. Forest Service was opposed to all projects providing for strict conservation without any nature use, especially logging of course, there. But for that time Committee Chair was capable to negotiate agreement with Service head on Utrish and Sikhote-Alin, Southern taiga - fir question remaining unsolved. Since year 1996 Federal Forestry Service would never agree to the establishment or broadening of protected territories from first attempt - it always took long and complicated negotiations.

IN MOSCOW REGION DRUZHINA FOR NATURE PROTECTION TAKING COMMAND
    In between January 25 and February 2 Moscow Region Environment Committee together with Druzhinas' - Students Movement for Nature Protection from Moscow State University and Nizhny Novgorod, Greenpeace, Friends of Greenpeace - St-Petersburg, conducted schedule inspection of reserve regime observation and forestry papers of several leskhozes.
    Besides work done inspection would set a precedent for such joint inspections in other regions.
    NGO member during this inspection showed high class qualifications admitted by professional foresters.
    The inspection did not reveal any serious violations.

IN CHITA, PROSECUTER'S OFFICE GRIPS ON FORESTRY FRAUD
    Federal reserve "Tsasucheisky bor" affiliated to Daursky zapovednik was independently inspected by Chita prosecutor's office and State Environmental Committees, both inspections drawing similar conclusions.
    Serious violation were found in activities of Ononsky leskhoz, using protected territories for commercial loggings. Violation of environmental and forestry legislation's were discovered.
    The illegally logged timber from protected territory was sold to China. Illegal logging were stopped by inspection, several cases were brought up against violators.

FEDERAL PROGRAM ON FOREST FIRES ADOPTED - WILL IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?
    January 10 - federal program on forest fires for years 1999 - 2005 was adopted by Russian Government. It is aimed to strengthen forest protection system against fires, but before similar programs did not do any better. Previous program for years 1993-98 received only 35% of funding needed. According to January 1 1998 assessment territory that needs protection is 804.89 mln. ha large. The money amount spent for protection per ha is 30 times less than in USA.
    It is still unclear, if present program will receive funding needed and of this money will be spent properly.

Issued by:

• V. Zakharov forestnews@glasnet.ru
• O. Berlova press@cci.glasnet.ru
• Z. Garkun zng@glasnet.ru