Republican environmental campaign "United Day of Forest Planting" was discussed today in Tatmedia
A press conference on urgent issues of forestry was held today in Tatar-inform. Timur Galiev, the Head of Forest Reproduction and Forestation Department answered the journalists' questions.
Timur Galiyev noted that the “Day of Forest Planting” campaign in Tatarstan had started since 2011, since then more than 17.5 million new trees had been planted on over 4,474 ha. Over 327 thousand residents of the republic took part in the campaign. It is worth noting that these trees are planted mainly for the purpose of landscaping parks and squares in large cities, creating green shields in the suburbs and other settlements.
The autumn stage of the republican environmental campaign will take place on October 6, 2018. Mass planting of trees takes place within the framework of the Year of the Volunteer in the Russian Federation, as well as in order to foster careful attitude toward the forest, to draw public attention to the problems of conservation, reproduction and enhancement of forest resources. On this day, anyone can plant a tree. Gloves, shovels, seedlings are handed over at the site. Only desire and good mood is required. Plots with a total area of 300 hectares - this is the area allocated by the authorities of Tatarstan for reforestation in the framework of this campaign. It is planned to plant more than 1.3 million seedlings in Tatarstan. The central event will be held in Pestrechinskiy district, near Staroye Shigaleevo village at 10.00.
Also, as part of the press conference, the questions of suppression of illegal logging were raised; this issue is under special control in the Ministry. 6 criminal cases were initiated on illegal logging in 2018.
During the meeting, they also discussed a law allowing residents to collect deadwood in forests. The journalists were explained that dead tree trunks and their parts formed during the natural death of trees are considered deadwood. Deadwood lying in the forest impairs its sanitary condition, increases fire danger. However, the adoption of the law does not mean that residents can cut down trees, for such actions they will be fined.
The issue of ripe and overmature stands was also raised, for example, the volume of rotten aspen trees in Tatarstan is 60%. The priority for the forestry of the republic is the project implemented in the Special Economic Zone “Alabuga” by the Turkish company “Kastamonu Integrated Wood Industry” for processing of low-quality wood. Forestry enterprises supply low-grade timber obtained from thinning to the plant in Elabuga.