New reforestation rules came into force in the Russian Federation from May 26, 2019
On May 26, 2019, an order of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation dated March 25, 201 No. 188 “On Approval of the Reforestation Rules, the composition of the reforestation project, the procedure for developing the reforestation project and making changes to it” came into force.
New rules for reforestation involve the use of planting material with a closed root system for artificial reforestation in the forest fund, starting from 2022 in the area of at least 20%, and already in 2030 in the area of at least 45%. In addition, this document defines the procedure for drawing up and developing a reforestation project, as well as making changes to it.
An innovation of reforestation rules is also the fact that this document determines the reforestation by persons who cut forest plantations when using forests in accordance with Articles 43-46 of the Forest Code of the Russian Federation, including the creation of protected zones designed to ensure the safety of citizens and creation of conditions for operation of facilities associated with performance of work on geological study of the subsoil and development of mineral deposits, linear objects (except for the case provided for by part 3 of article 63.1 of the Forest Code of the Russian Federation) and by the persons who filed a petition or a statement on the change of the designated purpose of the forest plot, including in connection with the transfer of forest fund lands to lands of other categories, except transfer of lands of the forest fund to lands of specially protected territories and objects.