National system of voluntary forest certification established in Russia

Aug 08, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. The ministry of natural resources of Russia announced foundation of National system of voluntary forest certification. The initiative was launched by Russian national council on forest certification. The founders are Russian centre of forest protection, Moscow state forest university, RAO Bumprom, Ilim group, All-Russian research institute of forestry and mechanization of forestry, other largest enterprises, scientific and social organizations of forest complex of Russia. “Russia will start to compete actively with other forest powers at global market which is characterized by growing demand for certificated forest products and strengthening of prohibitions on non-certified products”, director of Russian centre of forest protection Mikhail Kobelkov said. After implementation of the National system the area of certified plots of forest fund may exceed 20% of periodic yield. At present only 10 million hectares or 2% of periodic yield are certified (for comparison, in Sweden, Germany, Finland, Austria 100% of forest fund is certified). National system is based on Russian forest and environmental legislation – new edition of Forest Code and regulations. At that standards of National system were harmonized with international criteria and indicators. Kobelkov supposed it will say for international accreditation of the National system.