Mondi Syktyvkar: Reforestation works do not contradict Komi’s legislation

Oct 29, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Reforestation works of Mondi Syktyvkar do not contradict the legislation: apart from age requirements, reforestation rules adopted on July 16, 2007, stipulate also height requirements to seedlings, as Mondi Syktyvkar’s head of press service Anna Abakumova informed Lesprom Network. Ball-rooted seedlings reach the height stipulated in the Reforestation rules in one or two years, she said. As Lesprom Network informed earlier, Mondi SLPK OJSC has opened the largest container nursery farm in the Russian North-West. Later on, Greenpeace Russia announced that rules specify that 3-4-year-old spruce and 2-3-year-old pine be used on the territory of northern and middle taiga of European part of Russia (i.e., on the whole territory of Komi Republic). Meanwhile, Mondi plants 1-2-year-old spruce and one-year-old pine. As head of the Forestry Committee of Komi Vasiliy Obukhov said, temporary regulation on reforestation and afforestation of Komi was adopted which specify that ‘without preliminary treatment of soil it is allowed to plant ball-rooted transplants and seedlings. Mainly, one-to-three-year-old standard spruce seedlings are planted. Pine is planted mainly, provided that the soil is dry and intense grass cover is absent’. Three-week audit of the Forestry Agency did not result in any negative conclusions on the document. Apart from that, there is a draft of new reforestation rules, where age requirements for seedlings are absent, while planting material height is specified. As for today, draft project is being prepared for transferring to Agriculture Ministry of Russia for approval. Greenpeace representatives believe that new rules will have been adopted till the end of 2009.