During a fortnight of 8-20 June, Silver Taiga Foundation organized an expedition to Pyssa pristine forests massif, which is situated on the border of Udora district (Komi Republic) and Leshukonskoye district (Arkhangelsk region). Pyssa pristine forests massif is one of the last large low-disturbed forest territories in the European part of Russia which was marked by non-governmental nature conservation organizations.
The Forests Dialogue “Virgin forests of the Komi Republic: alternatives to extensive forest exploitation” was held on 12 and 13 April at the initiative of the Silver Taiga Foundation in Syktyvkar.
Many people heard about Komi Model forest, because it was a long-term project, and it has been rather successful. What is Komi Model forest like today? What are its current perspectives? We held an interview with Yury Pautov, the deputy director of Silver Taiga Foundation.
Public version of the documents of Koigorodok forestry unit can be found among other official documents in the Russian version. There are “Plan of forest management of Koigorodok forestry unit” and “Summary of monitoring results of the forest, forest production, forestry and its social and ecological consequences of Koigorodok forestry unit for 2009”.
School program “Environment of the Village” is available in E-variant among other docs and publications in the Russian version only.
In the Russian version among other Docs & Publications you can find the booklet «FSC-certification in Russia: practical solutions» in .pdf but only in the Russian language.
The booklet reveals the definition, goals and objectives of the voluntary forest certification, description of widespread international and national systems of forest certification, history of FSC-cerification development in Russia.
Rural tourism development is one of the possible additional alternatives to improve the financial situation of the “project” village residents. According to some expert estimates, there is the potential for economic growth in such villages as Kazhym, Bolshaya Pyssa, Turya, Byzovaya and Priuralskoje.
Without building-up cooperation in local communities, without developed local self-government it is hard to expect any tangible changes for the better in rural settlements. However, local self-government is still considered to be the lowest level of the state power vertical, fully paternalized by it and dependent. In the meantime the underdevelopment of the self-government, especially on the settlement level, is caused by a number of local problems that have been seeking solution for many years. Therefore self-government development support in “forest villages” has become a relevant issue within the framework of the Forest Village project.
The subject for the regular Forest Dialogue in October 5-6 in Syktyvkar initiated by Silver Taiga Foundation was the problem of local government revival on the settlement level. It was no coincidence that the issue of the local government formation emerged: the “Forest Village” project is aimed at the sustainable development of the area which is not possible without the efficient local government and local population participation in taking vital decisions.
The third Forest Dialogue so far this year was held on 3-4 December. The Forest Village project implemented by the Silver Taiga Foundation once again became the ground for the dialogue which provides each of the participants with the opportunity to contribute to the discussion of matters dealing with natural resources management of the area.
All major stakeholders such as businessmen, representatives of the corresponding republican ministries, local population, local government delegates, representatives of the scientific and social organizations took part in the Forest Dialogue. The mutual interest to the topic in question was evident; all participants were greatly motivated and held lively discussions.