HCVF in Russia,Achievements & issues

Tatiana Yanitskaya

WWF Russia / Forest Program

1th of April, 2009

Achievements

• HCVF mapping• Russian National FSC Standard containing HCVF

interpretation is accredited• Russia has conservation traditions that are rich and

well-developed, like PA network

Russian input to HCVF Concept

Mapping of the Intact forest landscapes was begun in Russia

The most significant HCVF mapping projects of Russian NGO

HCVF mapping projects Intact Forest Landscapes Russian Far East Karelia Kirovskaya oblast

Russian Regions where HCVF concept is in real use

Komi: virgin forests, regional normative (“Silver taiga”)

Arkhangelsk: regional normative, moratoria (Greenpeace, WWF Russia)

Karelia: moratoria, regional maps HCVF included into regional Forest plan (SPOK)

Kirov: HCVF included into regional Forest plan (WWF, regional certification center)

Pskov: environmental planning (WWF Russia, Green Forest)

Far East: regional norms, HCVF mapping, HCVF included into regional Forest plans (WWF Russia, Amur branch)

Russian Regions where HCVF concept is in real use

That’s all!

Issues

• Stereotypes• No legislation• Federal authorities are not interested in the concept• Principles of sustainable forestry are just declared by the applicable forest

legislation, a goal of intensification of forestry is officially announced• Old-growth landscape-level forests are the areas of the very strong conflict of

interests• No any significant HCVF projects can be done in coming years - Russia is a

rich country, but there are no any funding for such activities• The concept is too flexible and too rigid at the same time – we need more• A strong lack of data like large-scale maps of habitats, forests, vegetation, soils

etc.

Main threats to HCVF in Russia

Green - Intact Forest Landscapes

Yellow – Recent Clear Cutting and Mining Sites

Red - Recent Catastrophic Forest

Fires

FSC is the only instrument for HCVF concept implementation

• Most of HCVF areas that were mapped or defined have no any official status and are protected voluntarily by companies. It causes some issues for companies

HCVF team in Russia

Most of people who deal with HCVF in Russia are here

Conclusions

• HCVF activities in Russia needs international support, both in terms of funding and advocacy

• The possibilities for development and implementing of HCVF concept in Russia are very poor now

• HCVF concept itself is not enough neither for biodiversity and other environmental values protection, nor for social responsibility

• HCVF concept should be adjusted to country or region conditions not only in terms of HCVF definitions, but in terms of its place in the system of environment protection as well

Questions

How to involve Russian authorities and business into the HCV Network?

Proposals

tyanitskaya@wwf.ru