Dec 03, 2004. /Lesprom Network/. 2.2 million hectares of forests are currently certified in Russia, 2 more million hectares are to be certified soon, spokesperson for the Ministry of natural resources told Lesprom.ru. By the end of 2004 the amount of certified forests will reach 0.3% of the total square. In Finland, Germany, Austria and Sweden 100% of forests are certified. In Russia forests are being actively certified in Arkhangelsk and Irkutsk regions, Komi Republic and Krasnoyarsk region. National Council on forest certification headed by academic Alexander Isaev supervises national forest certification. The council includes the representatives of state institutions, business science and civil society. In 2004 the working group on forest certification worked out a number of criteria and indicators of steady forest management and usage that were raised to PEFC and FSC standards. In 2005 the council will finish the preparation of documents on voluntary forest certification and will approve them in international organizations. The certification system will be widely introduced in 2006.