The key results of the forestry sector work were summarized at the RUSSIA EXPO

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The RUSSIA EXPO hosted the All-Russian meeting "Russian Forests: Key Results of the Russian Forestry in 2023 and Objectives for 2024". The participants discussed preparations for the fire-dangerous season, forest restoration, implementation of FSIS of the Forestry Complex in Russia and a number of other issues.

At present, the situation in the forestry sector is stable, said Ivan Sovetnikov, Head of the Federal Forestry Agency. According to him, significant bills were passed in 2023 - in particular, now the federal reserve of forest protection can be sent to the regions on state assignment, which will facilitate firefighting. In addition, the work of business was facilitated by regulating survey work and logging. Currently, the bills on forest roads and responsibility for the sale of timber on stock exchanges have been passed in the first reading. Amendments on forest-climatic projects have been introduced in the State Duma.

"We expect the consideration of the bill during the spring session. Climate projects in forests are the way to a clean and green economy. Our task is to provide businesses with a legislative framework for the creation and implementation of forest-climatic projects on a voluntary basis," Ivan Sovetnikov said.

 Also, subventions for delegated forest authorities have now increased — from 40.3 to 46.3 billion rubles, said Ivan Sovetnikov. This makes it possible to better protect forests and increase salaries in the industry, which was mentioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his address to the Federal Assembly.

"This is not an easy task, but today together with the Ministry of Finance we are already solving it — we will see the first results in 2025," Ivan Sovetnikov emphasized.

 The timber industry also continues to grow. According to the head of the Federal Forestry Agency, in 2023, 188 million cubic meters of timber were logged - with a total investment of almost 190 billion rubles, which is comparable to the level of 2021. Today, 57 priority investment projects are being implemented in Russia, 131 have already been completed. About 80 million cubic meters of estimated timber cut has been leased on preferential terms.

"The growth of profitability of the industry is impossible without the successful work of business. Thanks to the measures of the Russian Government to support the timber industry, we managed to avoid a critical decline in logging and production of forest products. Last March, on the instructions of the President, a set of measures was adopted on the development of enterprises of the timber industry and support measures for the regions most affected by the current economic situation," said Ivan Sovetnikov.

 Successes in the timber industry are associated, among other things, with increasing the level of protection from forest fires. In 2023, the area covered by fire amounted to 4.3 million hectares, which is almost twice lower than the five-year average. At the same time, in 2024, 27 thousand forest firefighters, 14.8 thousand units of heavy machinery and about 80.6 thousand units of special equipment will start to eliminate fire in forests. The level of equipment provision in the regions, including those purchased under the national project "Ecology", is 95.1%.

"In spring, our traditional issues — agricultural fires and landscape fires — become more acute. When working with the regions, we insist on the toughest possible fight against these problems. There can be no compromises here. The regions have all the regulatory tools. We will take tough measures for each such case," Ivan Sovetnikov emphasized.

In addition, the work in the forest industry is being digitized — in 2024, 15 public services will be uploaded into the FSIS of the Forestry Complex. Currently, 90% of the data on the existing forestry areas in the country have been inputted. Besides, almost all the borders of forestry areas have been entered into the Unified State Real Estate Register - the work is planned to be completed by the end of 2024.

Much work is being done on reforestation — over the five years its area amounted to 6.3 million hectares. In particular, the area of these works in 2023 amounted to more than 1.4 million hectares, which is the highest indicator for the area of forest reproduction for the last 27 years. Also, 100 million trees were planted in 2023 as part of the "Garden of Memory" and "Save the Forest" campaigns.

"The year is expected to be difficult, but I am absolutely convinced that we have all the opportunities and resources to qualitatively pass it — these are finances, and equipment, and — most importantly — people: professionals who will cope with all the necessary work," concluded Ivan Sovetnikov.

The meeting was also attended by deputies and senators, heads of regions, representatives of the expert community and business. They spoke about measures to preserve forests on the ground, attracting new personnel and public campaigns in the industry.