Round-Table Conference: Forests for People

New York, February 2, 2011

Dear Mr. Chairman, Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

Allow me to express my thanks to the organizers and all participants of the Forum for this opportunity to speak at such a high level.

Consequences of world financial crisis, climate change and other global challenges, with which humanity is coming across, strengthen our confidence in necessity of joining efforts of different countries for overcoming difficulties and accelerating progress. The contribution of UN Forum on Forests into this process is very important.

Development of forest industry is becoming one of the priorities for our state management. It should be mentioned that in spite of crisis Russian forestry is preserving high level of investments; we construct new wood-processing enterprises, create additional jobs and improve system of forest management.

The leadership of our country adopted decision on reorganizing Federal Forestry Agency as an independent organ of forest management, forestry received substantial financial assistance. We increase efficiency of forest management system, improve forest legislation. The Forest Code of the Russian Federation, adopted in 2006, is a main legislative act regulating forest relations. Special attention is paid to technical re-equipment and development of infrastructure and training of personnel. All this demands full understanding and support from the side of society.

In 2008 was adopted the Strategy of Developing Forest Complex. In 2011 will be approved the State Program “Forests of Russia”. Our government pays much attention to forming efficient system of forest management in regions, increasing status of forestry managing organs.

We have started large-scale technical modernization of forestry. Within next three years we plan to conduct technical re-equipping of our forestry. It will allow us to make more successful activities on forest protection and forest regeneration.

In contemporary world the power of any country, its ability to solve global problems depends on clever and educated people, armed with knowledge, imagination, and desire to create. I hope in the nearest future they will occupy key positions in business, state management, science and education of their countries. In coming years we will develop continuous vocational training at will organize it in conformity with international standards.

On international level we intend to continue our efforts on developing bilateral relations, as well as multilateral  cooperation, developing regional partner relations embracing wide range of directions with the countries if European Union, North America, Asia-Pacific Region.

Perfecting forest legislation is a priority direction of activities of Federal Forestry Agency. Besides that we are following with attention the efforts on preparing a legally binding document on forests for All-Europe region and studying the opportunity   of concluding corresponding international agreement. 

We believe that decision of the UN General Assembly to conduct in 2011 International Year of Forests is very important and actual. This UN initiative must not be transferred into formal series of separate events. We think that conducting International Year of Forests creates favorable opportunities for developing new vision on problems of forests’ preserving and managing.

The leadership of our country issued a special decree on conducting in Russia International Year of Forests and adopted corresponding action plan.

I would like to specially underline that we have no intention of limiting time scope of these measures only by 2011. We will continue our efforts on promoting in our society new ideas and approaches typical for ideology of our Forum.

The International Year of Forest declared by UN will consolidate and attract all interested groups of our civil society, will contribute to joining their efforts with the aim of preserving forests and supporting their sustainable management.

In the last year we encountered catastrophic wild fire provoked by abnormal heat. In this connection, foresters of Russia express their gratitude to all who rendered us assistance in our fight against this natural calamity.

Special threat is produced by trans-border wild fire. For rendering timely assistance on its prevention and suppression we think that it is  necessary to further perfect international instruments of cooperation.

International measures on counteracting wild fire will be very important.

In Russia we accumulated rich experience on preventing and suppressing wild fire. We offer cooperation in this field to all interested countries.

Fight against wild fire and regeneration of damaged forests makes a substantial contribution into alleviating negative consequences of climate change. We are prepared for further initiatives in this field of activities.

Achieving goals of sustainable development is impossible without forming people with new type of thinking. Important contribution into solving this task is International Junior Forest Contest, which has been organized by Federal Forestry Agency already for eighth year in succession. We are interested in receiving support from the side of UN in conducting this contest, in establishing a special prize for the best submitted paper on global problems of forests. We propose to send talented and devoted to forestry students to Russia for participation in this contest.

I wish successful work to all the participants of the Forum.

In conclusion allow me to express my thanks for your attention.