Published by Russian NGOs Forest Club
and Socio-Ecological Union Informational Coordination Center
N 36 (march 1999)
AIBGA PEAR GARDEN - LOGGINGS PROHIBITED, HAS ANYTHING LEFT TO CONSERVE
The sad story about logging of the unique old pear garden in Aibga
(near Sochi), continues.
After activist managed to stop illegal loggings, there was another
attempt by Agrodom representatives to renew loggings.
The Commission gathered on the problem on March 11 found that 97
Caucasian pear trees, 18 ash trees, 20 plum trees and some other -
oaks, beech were illegally felled. No diseases were found, thus
showing that commission gathered on September 98 by the Agrosom and
Sochi national park wrote fake conclusion that all trees in the garden
were ill and thus were to be logged. In this way significant amount of
valuable timber was classified as fuelwood, and thus costed much less
to the loggers, but could be sold for a nice profit.
After that North-West Caucasus SEU representatives made local
authorities to withdraw logging license from the Agrodom company. The
prosecutor office was informed about the law violations. After that,
the prosecutor confirmed, that all logging activities must be stopped.
FOREST FIRES IN KAZAKHSTAN
Coniferous forests of Eastern Kazakhstan in year 1997 suffered
severely from forest fires, loosing up to 40% of the forested area.
Through years 1997 - 98 forest fires destroyed almost 50% of the
Eastern Kazakhstan forest. The past three-year draught weakened the
forests and lead to the growth of pine diseases. Almost 20% of the
forest are damaged by fungi's.
OFFICIAL INFO
"To the year 2005 Russian federation plan to raise export of timber
amd paper and pulp industry by 2 - 2,5 times, if the program of the
branch restructuring works out right," - said Boris Masly, economy
minister deputy on forest industry.
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