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Solution
IV -
Increase Regulation
Increasing the regulation of
current forestry laws, as well as enacting new regulations in the Russian Taiga,
would greatly increase the taiga's sustainability. Today, publishing companies make
claims that the paper used in books "comes from wood grown in sustainable
forests."
In addition to many of these companies making claims they cannot prove, with
corruption estimated at controlling up to 50 percent of the timber industry in Russia,
it is difficult to ensure exports are products of sustainable development. The
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the only certification program that
certifies sustainable
practices.
The wood exports, as well as companies' products that use FSC certified wood,
are marked with a logo that ensures the validity of "eco-friendly"
claims. More regulation, inspection and investigation would better ensure that
companies are abiding by sustainable regulations.
Although
the Ministry of Forestry sets laws and regulations as well as patrolling the forests
to ensure good forest practices, illegal logging is still present. “The
main regulatory agencies (divisions with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the
Forest Service, and the Hunting Administration) also need the right to arrest
loggers and carry firearms. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, whose officials
have this right, has established special task forces targeting illegal logging
and trade; these task forces, however, so far have struggled to work effectively
with other regulatory agencies.”
Proper
support for non-governmental organizations (NGO) is a necessity. The Russian government cooperates with NGOs
such as the Tiger
Task Force and works to preserve the environment. NGOs have
been involved in
Russia’s forests to stop illegal practices, yet they lack the funding needed to
successfully monitor logging practices. “Tens of millions of dollars would be
needed each year to create and maintain the necessary number of task forces to
reform the industry in the RFE -- a level of financing NGOs do not have.” These
organizations have come up with successful tactics such as road blocks which
would curtail illegal export, increased customs regulation and holding products
before export for investigation, and “forming brigades with regulatory
agencies to patrol forests.”
NGOs and coalitions such as the Norwegian Forum for Environment
and Development have enacted debt cancellation so that funds can be
better allocated to domestic issues rather than paying dues to other countries.
If debt were cancelled, domestic programs including forestry regulation could be
better funded. Because regulations and sustainable practices are often ignored
for the sake of profitability, the absence of debt payment to foreign nations
would alleviate pressures on the government to acquire national income by
compromising the environment.
Although
lack of funding and personnel are giant obstacles to forest protection,
corruption also hinders proper regulation.
In cases of corruption, funding often goes to officials rather than to
organizations that regulate forestry. Officials who regulate exports,
sustainable practices and clear cutting regulations are sometimes paid off in
order for firms to achieve higher profits. The government must put and end to corruption and induce heavy fines and laws
against the illegal logging and trade. Corrupt forest officials are apt to
ignore regulations as are customs officials. This would require ample funding
and dedication from the government, both of which are scarcities in Russia.
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