The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment intends to revive the system of hunting supervision, Sergei Donskoi, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said at a meeting of the ministry’s public council.

Sergei Donskoi said that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment amended hunting laws in the summer of 2013, significantly expanding the powers of hunting farms with respect to the protection of hunting areas, and also laying the groundwork for the emergence of new hunting farms with the creation of 40,000 gamekeeper positions. Only 3,500 state hunting inspectors currently operate across Russia’s hunting areas. After passing a qualification exam, gamekeepers will be entitled to carry out the functions of hunting inspectors and will be more effective at clamping down on poaching.

Doubling the federal hunting subvention was another important decision in 2013. Sergei Donskoi explained that this subvention will reach 1.28 billion roubles in 2014, up from 611 million roubles in 2013. These funds could go towards, among other things, hiring more hunting inspectors and improving the resources of hunting farms.

According to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, these measures are expected to significantly enhance the protection level of hunting areas and wildlife. Every constituent entity of the Russian Federation is expected to report to the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources on their expenditure in this area in 2014.

Sergei Donskoi said that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is about to draft new amendments to the law on hunting, which are aimed at promoting responsible hunting farms and harmonising forest and hunting regulations.

The Minister also said that hunting inspectors will receive new powers. “Inspectors are now entitled to search the belongings and vehicles of hunters, use modern photo and video recording equipment and to draw up statements on alleged administrative violations or criminal offences before transferring all this information to supervision and law enforcement bodies,” Sergei Donckoi said at an online conference hosted by Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.