LOGGING IN KUBAN: 7 CRIMINAL CASES AND ALMOST 250 MILLION RUBLES OF DAMAGE
7 criminal cases for illegal logging in two forest areas of the region have been initiated in the result of the joint work of Interdepartmental working groups in Krasnodar region with the participation of WWF-Russia over the past three months.
So in September-November 2022, several field inspections were organized in the sites, discovered by the Fund's volunteers. The facts of violations were confirmed in the Pshishskiy and Dzhubgskiy Forestries.
How it happens:
The Fund's volunteers, having discovered illegal logging, carry out calculations of the volume of illegal harvesting, and then apply to the Forestry, initiating an inspection. The Forestry organizes a joint field inspection, during which the legality or illegality of logging is established, and together with volunteers carries out the final calculation of the volume of felling. Further, the Forestry carries out the registration of the inspection report, the calculation of damage and submits the materials for consideration to the police. Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs make a decision to initiate a criminal case or to refuse.
Results of joint inspections:
- 5 criminal cases were initiated in the Pshishskiy Forestry. The volume of illegal logging amounted to 811 cubic meters. The damage caused by illegal logging amounted to more than 230 million rubles.
- 2 criminal cases have been initiated in the Dzhubgskiy Forestry. The volume of illegal logging is 103 cubic meters. Damage - more than 16 million rubles.
The main breeds subjected to illegal harvesting were oak, hornbeam, beech, less often ash.
"It is worth noting that the work within the framework of the interdepartmental group gives us the opportunity to promptly contact Forestries and confirm violations. To prevent logging or investigate cases that have already occurred, this is an important factor." – explains Elena Cherkasova, Senior Forest Officer of Russian Caucasus Ecoregional Office WWF-Russia.
Reference: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Krasnodar region with joint work of WWF-Russia initiated to establish interdepartmental working groups for the prevention, restrain and detection of illegal logging of forest vegetation in Forestries of the region in February-March 2022.