Deputy head of Rosleskhoz Alexander Panfilov told RT how many facts of illegal logging were recorded in Russia in the first six months of 2023, while saying that the problem in this regard in the country cannot be called global.
For six months of 2023, 4.5 thousand facts of illegal logging with a volume of 182.4 thousand cubic meters were recorded in Russia. m, said Panfilov.
“Compared to the same period in 2022, there is a decrease in the number of such facts by 17% (in 2022 – 5.4 thousand facts), and the volume – by 31% (263.9 thousand cubic meters),” the source said R.T.
At the same time, the volume of legally harvested timber in 2022 amounted to 194.6 million cubic meters. m, illegal – 647.4 thousand cubic meters. m, he added.
“Forest protection revealed 11.6 thousand facts of illegal logging. Compared to 2021, the number of such violations decreased by 11%, and the volume – by 22%, respectively. This means that it is impossible to say that the problem of illegal logging in Russia is global,” Panfilov emphasized.
In general, he noted that in a number of forested regions of Russia there is a significant decrease in the number of illegal logging. The Irkutsk region is one of such subjects.
“There, in almost five years (since 2019), the volume of illegal logging has decreased 16 times – from 310.3 thousand cubic meters. m to 19.2 thousand cubic meters. m. In the Trans-Baikal Territory, three times – from 46.1 cubic meters. m up to 16.7 cubic meters. m, in the Republic of Buryatia, a decrease of 2.3 times – from 30.9 thousand cubic meters. m to 13.7 thousand cubic meters. m,” said Panfilov.
According to him, this became possible thanks to the well-coordinated work of regional authorities and law enforcement agencies, as well as the prompt detection of forest violations.
Earlier, Vladimir Burmatov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, told who is involved in establishing the causes of forest fires.
