School forestry movement of the Republic of Tatarstan unites more than 1,400 people
School forest districts are actively developing on the basis of educational institutions of the Republic of Tatarstan. So, in the second half of 2019, 29 new school forest districts were created in the republic. Thus, there are currently 95 associations, in which over 1,400 people are engaged. The average age of pupils is 14 years. Each school forest district has a supervisor-teacher and curator from a subordinate institution of the Ministry, which conduct theoretical and practical classes for schoolchildren.
The activity of school forest districts is regulated by Order of the Federal Forestry Agency dated April 16, 2012 No. 145 “On Approval of the Program for Development of School Forest Districts Movements”, “Plan of Activities for Development of School Forest Districts for the period 2018 - 2027”, developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, the Ministry Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Russian Federation and the Federal Forestry Agency, as well as Decree No. 876-r “On approval of Development Plan and Activities of School Forest Districts of the Republic of Tatarstan for 2019-2020 academic year”. Last year, pupils took part in various environmental campaigns, republican and national competitions, conducted propaganda on respect for the forest, forestry work in their school districts and research activities.
It is worth noting that the intensity of activity of pupils of school forest districts does not decrease in the winter period. Now the children conduct “Live, spruce”, “Feed the Birds in Winter” campaigns, etc.