1. Silver Taiga Foundation HCVF – situation in Komi Silver Taiga activities, achievements and issues Przemyslaw Majewski Dmitry Kutepov

2. Komi Model Forest. Dissemination Regions The Komi Republic: Area – 417 000 km 2 Population – 980 000 GDP per capita – $ 9 400 Average monthly salary – $ 610 Main industries – coal, gas, bauxites and oil mining, forestry and wood industry; Logging and wood industry: 25% of industrial production 35% of industrial employment

3. Pristine forest massifs > 50 000 ha (Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest Landscapes)

4. Area covered by the inventory - 21 000 000 ha (100%) Area of identified pristine forests - 4 800 000 ha (23%) +Pechora-Ilych Reserve and National Park - 2 600 000 ha + Other protected areas in Komi - 3 500 000 ha + Protected forest along rivers - 3 800 000 ha Result of pristine forest inventory in productive forests of the Komi Republic Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information 200 km

5. Pristine forests – the most complicated category of HCVF in the Komi Republic: Very high ecological value Base for many logging companies Limited alternatives for logging Large areas – much larger than leasing area Stakeholders with different interests Local, national and international emotions Active cooperation needed to solve the problem and avoid conflicts.

6. Good will and market versus traditional approach supported by law Majority of pristine forests are, by law, exploitative forests There are not formal obstacles for logging them Logging industry is oriented to pioneer frontier Logging is restrained by: Remoteness and lack of roads Low profitability of pristine forests Environmental NGOs Demands of European buyers Voluntary forest certification FSC.

7. Specific position of the HCVF in the Komi Republic Large areas often >5 000ha Often much larger than leasing area 100 km - pristine forests area - leasing areas Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information

8. Several HCVF have already certain protection status Neighbor leasing areas have not valuable HCVF Specific position of the HCVF in the Komi Republic 200 km pristine forests massive protected areas leasing areas Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information

9. Specific position of the HCVF in the Komi Republic 200 km Certification of large units of forest administration has been one of the solutions. Reforms in forest administration can jeopardize this type of the certification certified areas (2 400 000 ha) Pristine forests massive protected (15 000 ha) proposed for protection (43 000 ha) Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information

10. Level of solving of pristine forest issue in the Komi Republic Komi Model Forest 800 000 ha 100% 100 km Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information

11. Conservation value of pristine forest landscapes (HCVF) expressed as traffic lights - Udora region Total area 3 500 000 ha Pristine forest 1 200 000 ha (34%) 100 km Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information

12. Level of solving of pristine forest issue in the Komi Republic Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information Udora region 50% protected areas approved for protection under discussion approved for logging 100 km

13. Level of solving of pristine forest issue in the Komi Republic Silver Taiga Foundation State Forest Service Territorial Fund of Information 200 km

14. Approach of forest stakeholders toward HCVF Clearly interested to solve the problem: NGOs – “benefits for conservation” Large wood industry “environmental policy and security on the market” Forest villages – “protection of traditional forest use” Neutral or skeptic: Small loggers – “it is not for my size” Foresters – “problems on my shoulders, but advantages for someone else” Opposing: Regional state administration – “it is enough of protected forests; protected areas 15%, forests protected along rivers 9%, now you want to add 23% of productive forests?” “We need large forest areas for strategic industrial projects” Federal state administration – “we should cut more forests to live better” Main challenges

15. Attitude toward FSC certification Majority sees certification as: Gate to the market Western buyers wish “One more obstacle I am forced to solve” But not as: Process leading to sustainable forestry Something to be proud from Main challenges

16. Limited alternatives for logging areas Russian society is not aware of advantages linked to FSC product Crisis is stimulating interests toward new markets, which are not certification demanding like Iraq, Iran, China Limitations of certification of state forest unit Lack of critical mass of stakeholders to solve problems related to HCVF Main challenges

17. Thank you for your attention www.silvertaiga.ru Silver Taiga Foundation