Concept Approaches to the Russian Federation Forest Code New Version
Authors: Мартынюк А.А. 
Published: July 2024

Анализируются проблемные вопросы действующего лесного законодательства, затрагивающие права собственности на леса, деление лесов по целевому назначению, районирование лесов, государственное управление лесами и лесным хозяйством, организацию использования, охраны, защиты и воспроизводства лесов, осуществление лесоучетных работ, федерального государственного лесного надзора и лесной охраны, формирование экономических механизмов ведения лесного хозяйства. Даны концептуальные предложения по изменению Лесного кодекса Российской Федерации в части указанных направлений.

The period of the current Forest code implementation required a repeated adjustment of its standards which resulted in sufficient revision of its initial content. However there are gaps as well as newly emerged issues in forest relation regulation that require legislation decisions which implies a need of the Law version consistent review. In the Code modification it makes sense to preserve forest resource land federal ownership while establishing an opportunity to transfer its parts from federal to the federation subject ownership that will enable wider consideration of socio-economic interests in regional development. There will be a need to introduce standards to specify forests established in agricultural lands as private forests with a follow-up regulation of its management. Among concept approaches to the Code new version there is a proposal to build-up government forest management federal regulation through rearrangement of authorities between the federal center and the federation subjects focusing regions on management functions. To build up forest district positions in forest management there is a need to introduce standards to specify its subordination and functions. It makes sense to provide transfer of forest inventory and federal government forest supervision authorities to federal level. It is needed to preserve current end-use forest division with an update of protective forest category number and review of commercial and reserve forest differentiation. The Code compulsory standards should be criteria and procedure of forest reference to end-use types, procedure of special forest protected area designation. There is a need to introduce standards that enable regulation of various end-use forest zoning and its use, conservation, protection and regeneration. It is suggested to introduce a separate chapter covering forest management arrangement background into the Code. In forest use area one of the most sensible options is preservation of lease holding institution with legal arrangement of clear lease holder commitment transparent tool and owner control build-up of their activities. For unleased territories there should be fixed conditions to provide forest management unit efficiency and transparency. In forest use assignment there is a need to specify definition of allowable use type, establish uniform procedures in forest lot formation and authorities to allocate forest areas for big investment project implementation. The Code new version should promote development of an economic tool that enables self sufficiency of forestry. Like in the law efficient version forest use payment as well as missing standards setting forest management funding and forest management principles should be put in its background. Research based rating of forest product and service costs that enable conditions to shift from federal budget fund distribution to identification of its needs through volume indicators and cost rating should be key funding background. It makes sense to develop the Code new version after review of forest complex development strategic issues and identification of its goals and targets in the long run.