By Rowland Benjamin

Russian forest management practices must be improved urgently. Until the government is sufficiently committed to improving law enforcement and dealing with corruption, the forests will continue to be exploited. For the time being, the task has fallen into the hands of NGOs and the public, and they will need to be alert to combat legal and illegal logging.

Some outcomes that have been achieved are:

We need to set aside large areas of unique forests and animal species, to improve the utilization of those areas already harvested and to increase emphasis on improving forest regeneration in the region’s challenging climate.

It is critical that in the absence of adequate governmental initiatives, the people themselves work to bring about these outcomes. Educating people about the role of Russian forests in the global climate and ecology, and about the value that reasonable forest management will bring, in terms of profit for the country in general and the preservation of nature and natural values for future generations.

We can also help by educating and training logging companies in sustainable forestry practices and establishing awareness patrols in remote areas in association with local communities. Encouraging logging companies to engage these local (and usually disadvantaged) communities in these practices would in turn help alleviate poverty. Russian and multinational timber companies have been licensed to monitor the management of boreal forests. A more effective approach would be monitoring by an independent body that has power to fine or prosecute breaches in the law.

We need to educate all consumers of timber to be discriminating about where their timber comes from. Obtaining political support from other countries will be crucial in overcoming corruption and governmental inertia. To protect old forests we must act globally.

In the long term, there must be viable alternatives to logging in order that the economy can survive. Plantations are part of the solution. The government must eventually establish infrastructure such as housing, clean water, food supply, waste disposal, health care and recreational facilities to support these solutions.

Tourism

Tourism is an alternative to logging and a small part of the solution. Tourism creates a market for non-timber forest products. If correctly managed tourism can bring increased prosperity and contribute to the protection of the local environment. Russia’s size means that it spans various climatic and cultural regions. Its natural beauty and cultural heritage could be of interest to tourists. For example, Southern Siberia contains Russia's greatest landscape diversity including Siberian forests, mountain ecosystems, and Central Asian steppelands.

Forest products

Products from the forest that do not require cutting down trees can provide a living without destroying the forests. For example, traditional plants can be grown and sold for medicinal purposes and are also useful in traditional cultural practices.

In the Altai Republic, in 1998, a group of small businesses, environmental groups, and scientists formed an independent Association for the Use of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP). The Association helps small NTFP producers to plan and market their products and teaches them about ecologically safe methods of gathering NTFPs. They are generating an economic alternative to logging and overgrazing.

Forest products may be a viable alternative to logging for local communities because there is a large market in China for non-timber forest products. There is a market for fir and pine oils. Tourists seeking recreation in the country will often eat, gather or buy non-timber forest products.

Plantations

One way of dealing with the expected increase in demand for Russian timber while protecting the environment would be to encourage private and local community investment in the establishment of plantation forests.

Hectare for hectare, plantation forests are more productive than native forests in terms of timber. Plantations can yield up to 14 times more wood per hectare than native forests. This is due to plant selection and breeding, and the use of more intensive management techniques. Quality control is also possible, so as to ensure higher wood yields and uniform quality, and hence, cost-competitive timber products. When strategically placed, plantations also allow for sustainable production and lead to reduced soil erosion and salinity, improved water quality, provides carbon sequestration and greater level of biodiversity.

Plantation forestry contributes significantly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It creates jobs for people in rural communities, raising the standard of living in parts of the country that have traditionally been the most disadvantaged. Once poverty is addressed educating the public about the need to protect the environment may be easier.

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