0187-B4
Nikolay K. Kruk
The Republic of Belarus has been a sovereign state since 1991. It has an area of about 207,6 thousand km2. with a population of 10 million inhabitants (70% urban and 30% rural). Forests cover 37,8% of the area (or 7 851 thousand ha). The standing crop consists of 1,3 billion m3 - the annual increment being 28 billion m3 (3,6 m3/ha). Annual felling volume is 11,5 billion m3. There are about 11 000 lakes in our Republic. The area of bogs is about 12% of the Republic’s area. One-quarter of the forests are polluted with radiation elements as the result of the catastrophe at the Chernobyl power station in 1986. There are more than 1 700 natural prime plants, and 31 000 animal species (among them we can mention bison). There are 34 kinds of boreal and sub-boreal forest landscapes. About 180 000 people work in the forestry sector.
Some 76% of the forests are of natural origin and 24% are of artificial origin. Some 70% are softwood and the others are hardwood.
One of the major forest problems is dieback of spruce crops (Picea abies), which began in 1992.
Owing to the influence of destructive insects, diseases, windbreaks, snowbreaks, fires, drought, etc. about 15 000 ha of forests (0,2% of the whole area) are cut annually. Damaged and felled areas are restored and the total area is not reduced.
All the forests in Belarus are in state ownership. The main principles of organization and management of the forests are multifunctional sustainable forest management and conservation of biological and landscape diversity. In 2000 the Forest Code of the Republic of Belarus was adopted.
In the accounting system used for forest resources there is a permanent forest inventory. Geographical information system technologies are used. Information about forests and enterprises is gathered by air (there are 20 planes and helicopters for observation and fire suppression).
Generally forest fires and illegal felling are not a threat for forests. Forests where protective functions are a priority make up 50% of the total. National standards for sustainable forest management have been worked out. The documentation necessary for the accreditation of a national centre for forest certification has been prepared. Personnel coverage is sufficient, excluding districts with radiation pollution where people’s health is threatened.
There is a lack of production capacity for cellulose-based paper products. There is a need for increased investment in the development of the forest sector of the Republic for further intensification of forest management, conservation and rational usage of forests.