Update on Russian Forest Sector and Russian-Chinese Relations: WWF View Elena Kulikova, WWF Russia...
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Transcript of Update on Russian Forest Sector and Russian-Chinese Relations: WWF View Elena Kulikova, WWF Russia...
Update on Russian Forest Sectorand Russian-Chinese Relations:
WWF View
Elena Kulikova, WWF Russia
April, 26, 2007
Beijing, China
Content
• New Forest Code and subordinated normative documents
• ENA-FLEG – current situation
• Russia-China relations – last developments
• WWF activities
•Forest complex is in the focus of Russian political authorities
•Forest sector problems are discussed with personal involvement of the President
New Forest Code:Major Changes
• Maximum decentralization of forest management and use system in Russia
• Delivery of responsibilities on forest management, use and protection to the regional level (subjects of the Russian Federation)
NGOs (WWF Russia, Greenpeace Russia, TRN) Comments on the Code
• State ownership but some conditions for privatisation• New classification of forest use types, several categories of
protected forest type no longer exist • Designation of protected areas will become more complicated• Ecological expertise (EIA) is disappeared • Mechanism for public participation in decision-making is absent• Rights of local people on traditional livelihoods are not guaranteed • Leasing of forests is allowed for periods of 10-49 years, absence
of any obligations related to SFM, biodiversity conservation or solving social issues.
• Reorganisation could result in large numbers of job losses in rural areas, increase in social problems and in illegal logging
New Forest Code Character
• Not forestry oriented• Pro-industry oriented• “Frame” character• A lot of work to finalize forest legislation. 42 sub-
ordinate normative acts need to be developed at the federal level, all together 78 with regional norms
Normative Acts under New Forest Code: Process of Development and Discussion
• 5 major Russian environmental NGOs: Greenpeace, WWF, Biodiversity Conservation Center, International Social and Ecological Union, Transparent World
• Joint efforts to ensure openness of the process • Positive tendency: norm drafts are on the web- site of the Ministry
of Natural Recourses• NGOs conclusion: norm drafts has significant weaknesses • Set of joint and agreed comments from NGOs to these drafts in
constructive manner• 15.03.2007 г. – joint letter to the Minister with attached comments• Public Council within FFA
European-North Asia Ministerial Conference on Forest Law
Enforcement and GovernanceENA FLEG
ENA FLEG: National Action Plan and Russian Federal Forestry Agency (FFA)
• Delivered to the Government (autumn, 2006) as a part of developed Programme
• Re-arranged into Programme of Measures
• MNR as a coordinating agency
• Measures are presented in the Programme as normative documents, reports, meetings
ENA FLEG: Current FFA Activities
• Direct regional control – check up forestry and related operations in the regions: Karelia – North-West Russia (March), Chita – bordering with China (April)
• Remote sensing control
• Combined check-up with involvement of relevant agencies (inter-agency work)
ENA FLEG: Practical WorkRemote Sensing Monitoring 2006
• 18 Russian regions
• 101,2 mln ha -area of remote sensing monitoring
1
23
4
5
6 7 8
9
10
1112
13 14
1516
New Export Tariff Policy for Round Wood: New Conditions
• Today: 6.5% but > or = EUR 4 • Compare with Canada and USA – 27%, Finland, China –
export is prohibited• Resolution of the Russian Government #75:from 1-Jul-07: 20%, but > or = EUR 10from 1-Apr-08: 25%, but > or = EUR 15from 1-Jan-09: 80%, but > or = EUR 50• Main reason for export tariffs revision is quick stimulation
of domestic wood processing and raising effectiveness of forest sector
New Tariff Policy: Reaction from Outside• Finland:- Plan to Prepare for Russian Log Export Tax Increase - possibilities to replace Russian wood by domestic attract attention of EU countries – bilateral negotiations• Japan- Search for alternatives for Russian wood in other countries- Japanese Association of Forest Importers – wish to share business
activities in Russian forest industry development• China:- Rather quiet reaction- Ready to switch round wood trade to processing- Comments by Chinese Deputy Minister of Commerce- Encourage Chinese investments into pulp and paper, sawing and
furniture enterprises
New Tariff Policy: Reaction from Inside
• Russian Far East Industry Calls to Postpone Log Export Tariffs until 2013
• Association Dalexportles addresses the Russian Government
• Fixed timeframe of 22 months are insufficient to establish wood-processing capacities
• Cause decrease in Far East forest sector, multti-million losses to the economy, social problems and unemployment of 60 000 people
Russia-China – New Conditions
• Refreshed relations at the governmental level• Changes in market demand FSC certification –
new geographic trends• Cross-boarder cooperation• China: no clear intention to actively participate
in ENA FLEG?• Japan markets – Public Procurements Rules• US markets – Civil G “8” – Bush-Putin
FSC certification in Russia
• 15 ml ha FSC-certified forests ( March, 2007)
• It comprises more than 10% of commercial forests
• 2-nd place in the world
Russian Federation
siblescom
томлеспром
Geography of FSC certification
WWF Joint work:Systems to identify legally-sourced wood in supply chains involving
Russia and China
• “Keep it legal” manual• 200 forest sector field staff (producers and inspectors)
trained on how to identify illegally-sourced timber and on forestry legislation reforms
• Two or three demonstration pilots for “verified legal” wood in cross-border (Russian forest to China factory)
• Case study on costs and benefits of a ”verified legal” supply chain
• Recommendations to stakeholders on improved methods for legal verification of wood supply