Forest Resources and Technologies (FOREST) Project - Russian Siberia and Far East Russia
Initiated in 2000, the FOREST Project is a five-year, $20 million initiative to preserve forests and heighten public awareness of forest conservation issues. Project goals include:
Project components include:
- to reduce the threat of global climate change and conserve biodiversity by promoting sustainable forest management
- to preserve Russian forests as a globally important carbon sink and habitat for rare and endangered species through the advancement of national and regional policies
- to reduce negative effects of climate change through projects targeting fire prevention, pest control, reforestation, forest policy, protected areas management, and sustainableuse of timber and non-timber forest products.
Project components include:
- Forest Fire Prevention. First, organisations, schools, and individuals are encouraged to request fire-prevention promotion materials including badges, posters, flyers, factsheets, and keychains. Forest fire danger level announcements are broadcast on TV and radio in Khabarovsk and Komsomolsk. Public service announcements have been aired by Gubernia TV in Khabarovsk and also by the state station in Komsomolsk. Second, there is a competition for jouranalists from Khabarovsky krai and Krasnoyarsky krai to honor the best newspaper article, TV report, or radio programme. There are also contests for the best mass information campaign and targeted information campaign on forest fire prevention in Khabarovsky krai, Krasnoyarsky krai, and Sakhalin oblast
- Forest Health and Pest Management. Pest monitoring has been performed in Krasnoyarsk Krai and Irkutsk Oblast, and also in Republics of Khakassiya and Tyva. In autumn and spring, staff analyse the results. A detailed map of Siberian Moth population areas and outbreaks statistics in Enisey area of Siberiat has been produced, and is available for download at The FOREST Project site.
- Non-Timber Forest Products and Secondary Wood Processing. This component involves developing and supporting of regionally based businesses and associations working in sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) and Secondary Wood Processing activities.
- Biomass and Energy. Efforts are made to convert wood waste from saw mills into a clean and reliable source of power for homes and business enterprises.
- Forest Policy and Legal Reform
- Applied Forestry Research
- Forest Grant/Loan Programme in the area of increasing value-added processing of forest products. There is also a financial database that provides credit information from all of the financial organisations of the region.
Development Issues
Environment.
Key Points
Russia has a total forested area of approximately 764 million hectares, over 22% of the world's forested area. Seventy-eight percent of this forest is located in the Russian Far East and Siberia. These forests represent one-seventh of the Earth's carbon pool, which affects global climate change. The plant and animal diversity and habitat found in these forests make them a resource of tremendous global importance. This resource can be threatened by unsustainable forest management.
In March, 2002 a follow-up survey of 600 randonly selected adults in Khabarovsk's two largest cities - Khabarovsk and Komsomolsk - was conducted. 88% of adults recognise the Forest Project central message, which is that "eight out of ten forest fires are caused by people." 93% of adults remember seeing the routine forest fire danger level announcements carried on TV and radio. With regard to the two televised public service announcements, 33% remembered the one about "green forest/burned forest," and 22% remembered the one that featured school children discussing what the forest means to them. Radio spot recognition ranged from 10-15%.
In March, 2002 a follow-up survey of 600 randonly selected adults in Khabarovsk's two largest cities - Khabarovsk and Komsomolsk - was conducted. 88% of adults recognise the Forest Project central message, which is that "eight out of ten forest fires are caused by people." 93% of adults remember seeing the routine forest fire danger level announcements carried on TV and radio. With regard to the two televised public service announcements, 33% remembered the one about "green forest/burned forest," and 22% remembered the one that featured school children discussing what the forest means to them. Radio spot recognition ranged from 10-15%.
Partners
The Krasnoyarsky krai Partnership for NTFP Management (KP NTFP), The Far-Eastern Secondary Wood Products Association (FESWP), Winrock International, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
- Log in to post comments