FOREST POLICY IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST: CURRENT STATUS IN PACE OF ECONOMIC REFORM

This paper reviews the current forest policy in the Russian Far East, a region with abundant forest resources. They are not only sources of raw materials but also a pivot of regional economic stability; 13.2 percent of the total forest area is in protective status. However forest resource use was unsustainable during the full history of its development and continues to be so. Most species have been harvested at various rates, leading to a significant transformation of pristine forests into second growth ones. The economic crisis has decreased the pressure on forests. At the same time, it aggravates social and ecological problems of forest use. As result there is an increase of forest area but gradual worsening of forest structure. Major negative factors affecting forests are commercial cut ting and fires. This paper describes shifts in legislative, institutional, financial, investment and other systems of the regional forest sector. It stresses the situation in forest conservation policy, and describes international ecological programs in the Russian Far East and the efforts of local Forestry Service. It concludes that the situation in the regional forest sector is very complex and the direction of future forest policy is uncertain