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FSF Report 1

FSF Report 1

Illegal logging within the Tunkinsky National Park highlights the failure of systems to control timber exploitation in Buryatia

REGION: Buryat Republic, Russian Federation

DISTRICT: Tunkinsky District, Arshan village

DATES OF RIDES: June 24th, 2003

PARTICIPANTS:

Andrei Laletin (FSF)
Victor Yarovoy (FSF)
Alexander Schepin (FSF)
Roman Fadeev (BROC)
Nina Vecher (Cry Tunkinsky)
Jonathan Barnard (FM)
Bente Molenaar (FM)
Christian Straarup (Nepentes)

The participants, photo ©FSF

Summary

During June 2003 FSF, BROC and FM researchers, working with local community members, documented recent logging operations in Arshan village within the Tunkinsky National Park. This logging is within the boundaries of this internationally important National Park and is in direct conflict with the Management Plan for the Park, which states, "No commercial timber extraction is permitted". Our investigations suggest that the main logging operator is connected with the local administration, raising concerns that there is no official control system to prevent this illegal activity. Consequently, we recommend that an official investigation is carried out at State or Federal level to prevent further illegal exploitations occurring, that sanctions are imposed on those found guilty of these offences, and that additional control capacity is provided to prevent similar operations continuing.

Purpose

This investigation was carried out in response to local reports of illegal logging within the boundaries of the Tunkinsky National Park.

Introduction

Tunkinsky National Park is an outstanding area of interest for both cultural and biodiversity reasons. The Park covers an area of 1,168,000 hectares and contains a high proportion of relatively intact boreal forest, which is under serious threat from commercial logging operations. Consequently, the 1991 Management Plan for this Park banned all commercial operations within the boundaries of the park.

Despite the importance of the Tunkinsky there are active sawmills in most villages within the National Park. This, combined with the failure to cancel forest districts within the Park boundaries, and a shortage of staff to effectively control operations in this area has led to increased reports of commercial logging within Tunkinsky National Park.

Researchers using GPS and video to document illegally felled trees in Arshan, Tunkinski National Park; Location 51.88923oN, 102.45000oE, photo ©FSF

Findings

During our fieldwork, using GPS and video, we documented clear evidence of current logging operations within the village of Arshan and Tunkinsky National Park. Local residents were able to show us several trees, which had been felled during the previous few days.

Interviews with local residents indicated that the illegally felled timber was processed locally for export to Mongolia/China, and we observed several active sawmills in the nearby village of Zun-Mureno (see picture). Local residents also suggested that the operations were occurring with the knowledge of the local Administration.

Consequently we approached the Chief of the local Administration who was defensive and unwilling to provide further information on logging, referring the researchers to the Forest Inspector in Arshan.

The Forest Inspector was more sympathetic to the problem of logging within the National Park. However, the Forest Department only has 98 staff, which is far below the number needed to be effective over the large area of the park, and he said that they are unable to pursue cases of illegal logging unless they catch the logger actually operating. He added that even then there are additional problems in achieving any effective control, as the local Administration routinely blocks any action from proceeding.

This case highlights several problems with the systems intended to control logging operations:

  • Primarily there are clearly problems with transparency of logging operations, and the huge potential for corruption in the operation of logging and it's control: this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed urgently at the Federal level.
  • There is a clear conflict between the failure to cancel forestry operations and the management of a National Park: the solution in this case is to cancel the operations which are in contradiction to the Park Management Plan.
  • There is a lack of capacity within official bodies intended to police the operations of logging companies: this needs to be addressed by the provision of additional financial and human resources.

    • Local residents do not benefit from the illegal exploitation of timber, photo ©FSF
    Sawmill in Zun-Mureno, Tunkinski National Park, photo ©FSF

    Recommendations

  • An official investigation must be carried out without delay, and adequate sanctions imposed on those persons and organisations found responsible for this illegal logging in Arshan.
  • The Government should cancel all logging permissions within officially recognised Protected Areas.
  • Additional financial resources should be provided to build capacity to enforce control of logging operations.
  • Consumers should question the legality of timber sourced in Russia, and only purchase from reputable suppliers, preferably certified by FSC.

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