The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has proposes to ban logging and leasing of forests for the production of high-grade timber in protective forests.

The relevant regulations are included in the draft amendments to the Russian Forest Code developed by the Ministry. The draft federal law is being developed in accordance with the President’s instructions issued following a meeting of the State Council Presidium on 11 April 2013 (Instructions No. Pr-1037 of 7 May 2013).

In particular, the draft law bans all types of logging in pine nut harvesting areas, fruit plantations in forests, and in the forests that have scientific and historical significance. The draft laws still permits cutting down dead trees, cutting down trees by the residents of such forests for their own needs and cutting trees for infrastructure facilities. Furthermore, it is proposed to ban logging in the specially protective forest zones with relict and endemic trees and plants and in the habitats of rare and endangered animals.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergei Donskoi said that the toughening of the legislation related to  ecologically and socially valuable categories of protective forests is especially important for the preservation of the  Amur tiger population and other endangered species, as well as the traditions of indigenous peoples.

The draft law also stipulates the introduction of a special status for forests located in water conservation areas, valuable forests and forests with protective functions to the Forest Code. In such forests, a full logging ban could lead to dangerous consequences and partial deforestation is necessary to maintain the environmental balance. A ban on cutting down dead and diseased trees would damage the forests and they would lose their protective functions, the explanatory note reads.