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Table of content:
NGOS CONSULTING KARELIAN GOVERNMENT
Creation of new nature reserves areas shall not influence Karelian
forest industry badly. Just 2 per cent of mature woods in Karelia
will get protected and may not be touched by harvester. Now 3-4 per
cent of forests in the region is not used by forest industry of which
oldgrowth forests amount to only 2-3 per cent. According to Karelian
Science Center today a big part of the protected areas do not really
mean any conservation and exist only on paper. All this was discussed
at the first meeting of the Working Group for Forestry And
Conservation of Biodiversity of Forests of Karelia at the end of
February in Petrozavodsk (Karelia). The meeting was attended by
representatives of Greenpeace Russia, Socio-Ecological Union and
Biodiversity Conservation Center. This multi-stakeholder working group
was created in accordance with the decree of Sergey Katanandov, Head
of Karelian Government. Working group will have its meetings 4 times a
year as a minimum.
Establishing of such a group means a lot for further development of
conservation programs and introduction of sustainable forest
management in the region.
One of the protected areas that should be created soon is Kalevala
National Park that used to be a hot spot in Karelian “forest wars”.
Area for this park was formally reserved in 1996 and then no action
was undertaken by Karelian Government to introduce any protection
measures there. But now it looks like all parties finally agreed on
the creation of the park. Even the last session of the local self-
governance committee of Kostomuksha (that consists mostly of industry
lobbyists) decided to address the governments of The Republic of
Karelia and Russian Federation. Committee will ask them to create
Kalevala National Park within the limits that were approved before.
Greens are sure that creation of the park will improve ecologically
unsound image of Karelian forest industry.
At the meeting some other important questions of nature conservation
such as creation of new nature reserves near Karelian border,
management of watershed forests, revision of the current system of
protected areas, were also discussed.
KOMI PEOPLE WON THE CASE AGAINST THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
Komi (Northern Russian republic) people brought in a complaint
against regional authorities. Head of the republic issued an order
that allowed oil drilling in nature reserve “Sebys’”. But Regional
Supreme Court satisfied a complaint of 100 people. The order was found
invalid. According to Russian legislation such activities are
prohibited in protected areas. Even if they are done for scientific
purposes. This complaint was prepared by Legal NGO “Rodnik” and
Greenpeace Russia.
This case proved that ordinary people could sometimes successfully
defend their rights for health environment that is provided by Russian
Constitution – said Ernest Mezak from Right Defense Center “Memorial”,
which also supported the complaint.
When the decision comes into force local NGOs and people are intent
to make “scientists” to stop their activities.
Wildlife sanctuary "Sebys’" was created in 1991. Its main task is to
conserve undisturbed nature of central part of Komi Republic.
Extraction of minerals, logging, agricultural activities are strictly
prohibited on its territory. But oil drilling has been taking place
now there. And there are plans to launch new illegal oil wells.
Contact:
Ernest Mezak, "Memorial" center
Òåë: (8212) 21 50 04, e-mail: memorial@komitex.ru
SNOWDROP – WILDERNESS IN BUSINESS
Druzhiny Okhrany Prirody (Students’ Nature Guards - DOP) have been
doing this for many years. Young volunteers try to prevent rare
flowers from death. Snowdrops are the plants that are in blossom in
the middle of February. They grow mostly in Caucaus and Crimea. They
are Red Book listings no one is allowed to pick them.
DOP campaigns against poaching, runs projects to protect nature
reserves, conducts research on biodiversity, runs ecological education
projects, holds events and actions etc. “Snowdrop” campaign – is a big
part of their work. Poachers pick these unique flowers and sell them
several weeks before and during the Women’s Day, which is on the 8th of
March, mostly in Moscow. For some Caucasian people it is a good
business to pick snowdrops and then sell it to middlemen who bring
marketable goods by train to Moscow. On the train stations illegal
businessmen are usually stopped by activists who have a power to
exercise such an inspection. Activists in cooperation with Ecological
troop of Moscow Militia withdraw goods and fine businessmen. This year
activists had to work in Moscow just by themselves as Putin abolished
Ecological Militia in 2000. Fortunately Moscow Mayer won the case in
Court and soon Ecological Militia will appear again.
Snowdrop business can not be stopped without a help of customers.
Main flows of illegal bouquets are coming from, Abkhasia (small
country near Georgia). This year activists “arrested” around 57
thousand of flowers there.
Estimated cost of such a business for environment is over 5 million
rubles (almost 180 thousand USD).
Good news about the snowdrop campaign is that the demand for flowers
has been decreasing. It is a result of raising public awareness.
Activists carry out a big informational work throughout a whole year.
They publish booklets, develop Internet site about snowdrop, provide
publications in mass media. When snowdrop appear on the trays of
retailers special announcements are made in Moscow subway. Greens call
people not to buy flowers if they want their children to see snowdrops
ever in wild nature.
It is very strange that businessmen still don’t understand that it
would be much more cost-effective to grow snowdrops in greenhouses and
sell it legally, - commented Michael Kreindlin, one of the volunteers.
Contact:
Natalia Kuksina, e-mail: nkuksina@mail.ru
http://www.ecoline.ru/dop (In Russian)
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Forest Club model projects and sites
