The volume of illegal logging in the forests of Kuzbass decreased by 37%

In the Kemerovo region summed up the work of the state forest inspectors in 2018. About it reports a press-service of Department of a forest complex of the Kemerovo region.

In the Kemerovo region in 2018 during the planned, unscheduled inspections, RAID activities revealed 225 cases of illegal logging, with a total volume of illegally harvested wood 10.4 thousand cubic meters. The damage caused to the forest as a result of illegal logging, experts estimated at 72.3 million rubles (in 2017 – 94.8 million rubles). According to the results of the work of the state forest inspectors, 164 materials on illegal logging were sent to law enforcement agencies, 134 criminal cases were initiated. Prosecuted 47 “black” loggers (in 2017 – 45). In accordance with the administrative code 249 is composed protocols on administrative offenses were brought to justice 58 legal, 55 officers and 113 individuals. Imposed fines in the amount of 5.5 million rubles.

In addition, in 2018, the Kuzbass foresters conducted 9 planned and 9 unscheduled inspections, checked 13 economic entities. During inspections revealed 7 offenses, including unauthorized use of a forest site, illegal cabin, non-performance of earlier issued instructions and violations of requirements of fire safety in the woods.

“Thanks to measures to strengthen the protection of the forest Fund, the organization, and implementation of measures for state forest supervision in forests, the performance of the state forest protection in 2018 has improved significantly. Thus, in 2018, in comparison with last year, the number of illegal logging of forest plantations decreased by 11%, the volume of illegally cut timber – by almost 37%, the damage from illegal logging – by almost 24%”, – said the Deputy Governor of the Kemerovo region Alexey Kharitonov.

Illegal logging in the region is prevented through space monitoring and forest patrolling. In Kuzbass, there is an interdepartmental operational mobile group consisting of state forest inspectors and police officers. In addition, the work of the Interdepartmental Commission on combating the illegal felling and timber trade in the territory of the Kemerovo region, the strategic objective of which is to improve the cooperation between law enforcement agencies, municipalities, to reduce the number of illegal felling in the forests of the Kuzbass.