The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is planning to introduce certification for tiger pelts within the programme to preserve this animal's population, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Yury Trutnev said.

"We are planning to introduce certificates for privately owned tiger pelts in order to establish the legality of their origin," Trutnev said at the International Tiger Conservation Forum in St Petersburg, to run from November 21 through November 24.

In the effort to preserve the Siberian tiger in Russia, the government plans to toughen administrative and criminal liability for poaching and trading in body parts of tigers. The plans also include tightening security measures at nature reserves. According to Trutnev, these proposals have already been approved by the government. In addition, the proposals include restrictions on business activities at tiger habitats as well as new rules against illegal tree felling.