The Attack on the Green Lung
Forestry in the Russian Taiga
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
One fourth of the world’s forest areas are in Russia. Of these, one third is used in forestry. The forest resources in the best areas have been exhausted, because more is cut down than replanted. Pressure is growing to release valuable primeval forest for exploitation. Illegal logging is a serious problem. At least 25 percent of official logging is felled illegally. This is abetted by the consequences of bureaucratic restructuring. Since 2005, the forests have been de facto without supervision, the powers of supervisory agencies are rife with contradictions, and the forest fire prevention is insufficient. The forest eco-system is in danger.
(Osteuropa 4-5/2008, pp. 107–116)