NEWS

The Federal Forestry Agency has organized the All-Russian campaign "Live, Forest!", which has been held in the Russian Federation for the sixth year in succession. The main goal of the campaign is to attract attention to the issues of preservation, restoration and increase of the forest resources of Russia, nursery plants and forest trees seedlings planting, carrying out activities promoting knowledge of the forest. The campaign is an All-Russian public event for planting

forests, harvesting acorns, cones and seeds of forest trees, conducting educational events and exhibitions related to forest issues, as well as cleaning the forest areas from debris and garbage.

"Live, Forest!" does not have a single mandatory format - in each constituent entity of the Federation, forest management bodies involve the public in planting forests and other activities aimed at increasing Russian forests.

The autumn action "Live, Forest!" for six years of conducting became not only all-Russian, but also practically nationwide - it covers 85 territorial units of the Russian Federation and unites more than 1 million people. It is important that it unites not so much forestry workers, as citizens who are not indifferent to the problems of our forests, our environment, and carries out agitation, educational and organizational functions. Its main task is the formation of a careful attitude to the forest wealth of our country, to our environment, to our planet.

Traditionally, the campaign is held from September 1 to October 31, that is, before the end of the possible forest planting in the most regions of the Russian Federation. However, in the southern regions the period of the campaign can be extended until the end of November.

Due to the weather peculiarities of this year of 2017, the start of the All-Russian campaign "Live, Forest!" was given by the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation - the Head of the Federal Forestry Agency Ivan Valentik on August 11, 2017. The solemn event was held in the framework of the Russian Championship "Logger of the XXI Century" in the Ustyansky municipal district of the Arkhangelsk region.

The Head of the Federal Forestry Agency Ivan Valentik and the Governor of the Arkhangelsk region Igor Orlov participated in tree planting, thus showing through personal example how necessary and important is the action which is held throughout Russia.

Representatives of the authorities in the field of forestry relations practically from all over the country took part in the opening event of the campaign "Live, Forest!": Republics of Karelia, Komi, Tatarstan, Udmurt Republic, Khabarovsk Territory, Arkhangelsk, Irkutsk, Leningrad, Vologda, Voronezh, Kostroma and Nizhny Novgorod Regions, representatives of large logging and timber processing companies

of Arkhangelsk, Vologda regions and pupils of school forestry divisions. A memorable alley was created by the joint efforts of the participants of the launching event.

The year of 2017 was declared the Year of Ecology by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. This year large-scale reforestation work was planned in the territory of the Russian Federation. The main goal of domestic foresters is to increase the area of forests owing to young trees in former burnt areas and in areas affected by epidemics of insect pests.

Every year, the number of citizens who are not indifferent to the problems of the forest and participating in the campaign, is increasing. In 2016, within the framework of the campaign, more than 25 tons of seeds of various forest trees were harvested and more than 25 million trees were planted. In 2017, thanks to coordinated and well-organized work of forestry specialists, it was possible to significantly increase these numbers. 54.7 thousand kg of seed-bearing raw materials were harvested. 29.3 million trees have been planted.

In 2016 the work on reforestation on the territory of the Russian Federation was carried out on a total area of 842.7 thousand hectares. It is important to understand that the forest culture season of 2017 has not yet been completed in all the constituent units of Russia and, therefore, the

achievement of the planned record indicators of 945 thousand hectares of the total reforestation planned for this year is more than achievable!

In total, within the framework of the All-Russian campaign "Live, Forest!", held in 2017, about 4 thousand hectares of forest plantations have been created on the lands of the forest fund, 538 hectares of parks and squares and 5.7 thousand hectares of memorable alleys and landings - on lands of other categories. Thus, the contribution of the participants of the All-Russian campaign to the noble cause of planting forest plantations amounted to more than 10.2 thousand hectares. At the same time a year ago this figure was 6 thousand hectares.

More than 1.4 million people took part in the events of the All-Russian campaign "Live, Forest!". In 2017, it united representatives of the political, cultural and public elite, scientists, art and culture representatives, representatives of state authorities and simply concerned citizens of the Russian Federation.