Protecting pristine forest

As we work to ensure the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) forest in Russia’s Komi Republic, one of the greatest challenges is identifying those pristine areas with a high ecological value, in which logging is not tolerated.

This is particularly difficult, because such protection is not enshrined in legislation. In addition, there are conflicts of interest between different parties and the issues involved arouse local, national and international emotions.

Our solution is to work cooperatively with different interest groups, including such stakeholders as the local population and administration, other companies, NGOs and the government and State Forest Service of the Komi Republic.

To date, some 23% of the Republic’s 21 million hectares of productive forest has been identified as ‘pristine’, and we have helped negotiate without conflict acceptable solutions for 800,000 hectares of forestry land, and a partial solution for a further 1.2 million hectares.

Mondi and local NGO Silver Taiga have now also created together an inventory of over 3.4 million hectares of pristine forest, as well as gaining significant experience in managing HCV forests during the FSC certification process.

This is helping us ensure that the forestry activities we undertake are environmentally and socially responsible. Looking ahead, our plan for 2008 includes reaching agreement on new areas and opening dialogue in others.

Last change: 18/03/2008