“During the past years, Russian forestry sector has experienced a number of important changes related to FLEG”, said Alexandr Panfilov, deputy head of the Russian Federal Forestry Agency, at the International Forum “Forest and Man” on October 21.

Participants of the round table “On the implementation of the FLEG practices in the Russian Federation” discussed the fulfillment of the commitments taken by Russia within the Europe and North Asia Ministerial Conference on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (ENA FLEG). In November 2015, ENA FLEG process celebrates 10 years.

“The goal of the round table was to assess the implementation of FLEG practices in Russia, and from my perspective, in the whole region of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument”, said Andrew Mitchell, head of the FLEG II Program from the World Bank.

More than 50 people took part in the meeting, including representatives of federal and regional executive and legislative bodies, countries participating in the FLEG II Program and Program Management Team, forest and forest trade companies and associations, NGOs, scientific and education establishments and other stakeholders.

Among the results of the work done on the federal level in Russia, Alexandr Panfilov named the following law enforcement measures: adoption of the Plan on Prevention of Illegal Harvesting and Trafficking of Timber in Russia for 2009-2011 (currently, it is replaced by a new plan for 2011-2014); the creation of Commission and Workgroup on Prevention of Illegal Harvesting and Trafficking of Timber; increased activities on distant forest monitoring using aerospace methods; inspections of the condition of forest land and use of forests in the federal subjects of Russia; development of new legal acts aimed at combatting illegal logging and illegal timber trade.

Participants of the round table pointed out that gradually, the view on FLEG issues is changing in the regions of Russia. The federal subjects of Russia have developed and are implementing integrated measures on the prevention of illegal logging and illegal timber trade, including improvement of local legislation. In most regions, interagency committees have been created and are actively running. Cooperation agreements with law enforcement, customs and tax authorities have been signed. Within these agreements the agencies are actively organizing joint inspections and forest patrolling by mobile groups, set up signs and checkpoints.

Andrew Mitchell believes that one of the major Program results in all seven participating countries is a significant progress on many directions set up by the St. Petersburg Declaration. He summed up the results of FLEG II program on the level of the whole region and in particular, he said: “Perhaps the FLEG Program’s most important contribution is the steady, sustained effort of our engagement as improving governance will involve changing behavior and this takes time. Many interlocking pieces have to come together. Due to external factors and changing circumstances, improving forest governance will always be a work in progress. So we need to continue working on this topic and to strive for improvements in this important and vital sector”.