
Compromise Reached: Environmentalists and Forest Business Have Agreed on the Borders of Planned Dvinsko-Pinezhsky Reserve
This is a significant achievement in creation of protected area between the Northern Dvina and the Pinega rivers, which is considered as the last European intact taiga forest landscape. Following several stressful rounds of negotiations on the reserve borders - accommodating environmental, economic and social aspects - all the stakeholders have finally come to a consensus.
The agreement was signed by representatives of WWF-Russia and Greenpeace Russia as well as chief executives of forest companies leasing forest area between the Northern Dvina and the Pinega rivers – Titan Group, Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, Lesozavod 25, Ustiansk Timber Group, Dvinlesprom, Vaengsky Forest Industrial Enterprise, Forest Specialists.
The signed agreement approved the borders of the territory under the current logging and forest roads building ban that will be active until the creation of the protected area.
WWF-Russia stresses that excess restrictions should be excluded from the project of the reserve during its drafting. The reserve is created to conserve forest from commercial logging. Hunting and fishing, mushrooms and berries picking as well as eco-tourism should be allowed.
Environmental NGOs and experts consider that crucial situation with the reserve creation is a result of significant depletion of the forest resources of Arkhangelsk Region because of 10 years of unsustainable forest management. Consequently, it’s essential not only to conserve the last remaining intact forest landscapes, but to promote and develop sustainable, environmentally responsible and economically efficient forest management in the industrial forests.
The full video record of the meeting is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN8QUoMf3yI
Headline photo: © Andrey Shchegolev / WWF-Russia