1. Public report of NGO «SPOK» for year 2008. The changes in forest conservation this year in Karelia Petrozavodsk 5.02.2009

3. Regional non-governmental organization “SPOK” The organization was established 10.11.96 as a Nature conservation community of Petrozavodsk State University. Later the organization developed into regional non- governmental organization “SPOK”. Registered in Petrozavodsk city (Karelia, Russian Federation) 14.01.2001. Our mission: Let’s save the forests of Karelia together! Target: To support conservation of ecologically valuable forests and sustainable forest use.

4. Structure of our organization: Forest department. Target: Support sustainable forest use, conservation of old growth forests and valuable nature objects on the territory of Karelia. Ecological education department. Target: Promote ecological values among people. Informatics department. Provides technical support to SPOK activity.

5. Our employees: Director Alexander Markovsky doctor of biological science Working in SPOK since 1997.

6. Forest department Leader Olga Il’ina Working with us since 2001

7. Ecological education department Leader Vera Ignashova Working since 2008 year

8. Information department Leader Natalia Markovskaya Working since 2005

9. Office-manager Tatiana Borisenko Working since 2007 year

10. Accounter Lubov Manieva Working since 2006

11. Consultant Andrey Rodionov Working since 2005

12. Our objectives for 2008 year : Support to conservation of ecologically valuable forests in Karelia Development of methods of survey and conservation of valuable forests of different levels. Support to Protected Areas system development. Participation in working out methods, providing sustainable forest use Ecological education of public, promotion of ecological values. Forming positive public opinion of SPOK. Creation of SPOK volunteer and supporters team

13. Support to conservation of ecologically valuable forests in Karelia

15. Monitoring forest use in Karelia Violations revealed: - Logging of young trees left for growing; - Leaving wood on the logging plot; - Law-quality forest plot marking; - Logging of trees outside the borders of the forest plot

16. Left trees are damaged. 50-meter water (river) protective belt destroyed

17. Red Data book species (Lobaria pulmonaria) habitat is destroyed.

18. Logging in 141 kvartal of Ladvozersky Lesnichestvo, Kostamukshsky leskhos, “Komileszagotprom” company leasing area, planning buffer zone of “Kostomukshskiy” nature reserve

19. Planning buffer zone of the «Kostomukshsky» nature reserve (№58) Area: 33,9 thousand hectares. Located in: Kostomuksha leskhos Kostomuksha lesnichestvo. Kvartals 314, 339; Ladvozerskoe lesn. 105-112, 124- 127, 137-152, 329, 704, 705; Kalivskoe lesn. 209, 248; Muezersky leskhos Kimasozerskoe lesn. 1-3, 17-20, 28, 29, 46, 47, 64-67, 85, 93-96. Leaseholders of the forests: “Berkana”, “Fregat”, “Karelfinles”, “Komileszagotprom”, “Ledmozersky lespromhos”, “Muezersky lespromhos”.

20. The action of the public prosecutor's office of Karelia to the Court of Arbitration, 07.05.08. … Asking: 1.To recognize the lease contract for forest plots №24 20.11.2006 between governmental structure “Kostomukshskoe lesnichestvo” and “Komileszagotprom” company invalid ( in the part of lease of 141 kvartal of Ladvozerskoe lesnichestvo). 2. Oblige “Komileszagotprom” to stop it’s activity in 141 kvartal of Ladvozerskoe lesnichestvo…. The assistant of public prosecutor of Karelia, D.H. Talipov

21. Court of arbitration of Karelia confirmed that “Kostomukshsky” strict nature reserve has a buffer zone (Resolution from 07.11. 2008 for the case А26-2602/2008)

22. Agreements on conservation of the old-growth forests within leased forest plots

23. June 2008. The agreement with Lendersky Lespromhos on old-growth forest conservation is prolonged.

24. Protocol of work meeting of “Karellesprom” company and “SPOK” 14.10.2008. «... Karellesprom company is strictly against stopping loggings even in the part of it’s leased forests...»

25. July 2008. Agreements for forest conservation within territories of planned nature reserves signed: “Yangozersky” reserve (12.07.08., area leased by “Karellesprom” “Spokoyni” reserve (12.07.08, area leased by “Myezersky lespromkhos”).

26. August 2008. The protocol of negotiation about the problems of high conservational value forests use and conservation on the “Zapkarelles” leased area (Suojarvskoe lesnichestvo) is signed

27. This means that by now leaseholders of forests in Karelia keep moratorium on loggings in ALL the massifs of old-growth forests (massifs over 50 thousands hectares) At the same time these territories are included in the planned network of protected areas (according to the decree of the Government of Karelia №102-П from 06.07.2007).

28. Developing methods of survey and conservation of valuable forests of different levels

29. April 2008. Negotiation of views of different research groups working at methods of biodiversity conservation in managed forests Global forest watch (Russia) WWF (Far East) WWF (Archangesk) “Silver taiga” foundation NGO SPOK Pskov model forest Kirovsk center of forest certification support Metsaliitto (Leningrad region) Project «Biologically valuable forests” (Leif Andersson &Nadezda Alexeeva)

31. From the resolution: Participants of the seminar «Coordination of different approaches to biodiversity conservation in managed forests” (Moscow, 15.04.2008 ) having discussed suggested regional methodics decided: In future imply multi-level approach (from old- growth forest massifs to clue habitats and elements) when surveying biodiversity in managed forests. By now no approach ensures complete identification of all valuable objects suggested by FSC. Absence of all objects required for conservation should be explained by the organization being certified.

32. Support to development of management and protection of conservation areas in Karelia

33. March 2008. No new protected areas in Karelia in 10 years (26.03.08, TV-news «NIKA+»)

34. Almost all old-growth forests identificated by now in Karelia are included in the planned protected areas: (total area 1270 thousand hectares, 7% of Karelian forests).) The new “Scheme of territorial planning of Karelia” includes: 250 thousand hectares (1,4 %of the territory of Karelia) – old-growth forests that are voluntarily conservated by the leaseholders; 660 th. ha (3.7 % of the territory of Karelia) – old-growth forests that are not conservated

35. Karelian research center of the Russian Academy of science is creating “the conception of protected areas network development” partly basing on suggestions of “SPOK”

36. 1 September 2008 The first in 10 years regional nature reserve established in Karelia (“Voinitsa”).

37. WWF working at the list of planned federal conservation areas on the request of Russian government. SPOK worked out suggestions for “Kutsa-Paanajarvi” national park establishment and send it to WWF.

38. December 2008. “Alrosa-Pomorje” (Archangelsk city), the branch of “Alrosa” business company agrees with new protected area establishment in the region of “Paanajarvi” national park. The projected protected area includes kvartals 1-20, 25-56, 62-79, 85-101, 107-134, 140- 151, 157-164, 170-173, 178-180, 196-203, 207-211, 215-232, 235-246, 249, 250, 252, 272, 284, 286, 287, 290, 291, 304, 305, 315, 316-318, 333, 334 of Pjaozersky lesnichestvo According to the “Scheme of territorial planning of Karelia”.

39. December 2008. Planned protected areas (PA’s) included in official forest use planning documents (Forest use plan and forestry regulations of Karelia): the first list of planned protected areas includes 13 PA’s (about 180 thousand hectares). the second list - 47 PA;s (about 1,3 milliones hectares according to the “Scheme of territorial planning of Karelia”.

40. October 2008 Taiga rescue network conference in Petrozavodsk. Over 100 participants from 40 organizations of 10 countries (representing forest business, executive power, NGO’s).

41. Our participation in working out of methods supporting sustainable forest use

42. November 2008. Biodiversity conservation in managed forests 28.11.2008 the Ministry of forest complex of Karelia endorsed “the temporary instruction for biodiversity conservation” for territories of middle Karelia.

43. Biodiversity conservation in managed forests – clue habitats The survey of clue biotopes should be done by the leaseholder of the forest plot on the stage of logging planning. Centralized clue habitats survey on the whole territory of Karelia is impossible.

44. Publications (in cooperation with с Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA) : «The analysis of wood harvesting restrictions in conservation areas and intact forests of the Archangelsk region” «The analysis of wood harvesting restrictions in conservation areas and intact forests of the Vologda region”

45. Support to implementation of new methods of sustainable forest use

46. Lune 2008. Training course for biodiversity conservation in managed forests (Medveziegorsk region) (26.06.08 TV-news «TNT Petronet»)

47. Draft financial report of SPOK for 2008

48. Income of SPOK in 2008

49. Expenses of SPOK in 2008

50. OUR PLANS FOR 2009 year

51. Main vectors of activity in the area of forest conservation (2009): Support to protected areas network development based on targets of nature conservation, plans of industrial development of Karelia and local people opinion; Support to establishment of planned protected areas according to the official documents or territorial planning (Forest use plan, Forestry regulations,) basing at negotiations with official representatives, business companies and local people opinion.

52. Survey and identification of boarders of small and middle size valuable forest areas (forest massifs less than 50 thousand hectares) Our suggestions to the project “GAP-analysis” (coordinated by “SPOK”) –Planned forest reserves “Syrovatka”, “Chukozero”, “Karbozersky- vargachny”: support negotiating the protected areas establishment in the government of Karelia. –Complete working out of the documentation for forest reserves “Gridino” and “Vottovaara”. Prepare documents for PA’s establishing and send to the Ministry of agriculture. –Identificate borders of nature reserve “Yangozero”. Prepare documents for PA’s establishing and send to the Ministry of agriculture. (area included in the first list for establishing according to the Forest use plan of Karelia).

53. Survey and identification of boarders of small and middle size valuable forest areas (less than 50 thousand hectares). Our suggestions to the project “Green belt of Fennoskandia” (coordinated by Karelian research center) –Organize complex field expedition to the planed landscape reserve “Spokoiny” and area around “Yudolsky” reserve. Work out project feasibility for establishing protected areas and send the projects to the regional Ministry of agriculture for consideration. –Carry out field survey of 4 projected regional protected areas and work out project feasibility for their establishing. (areas included in the first list for establishing according to the Forest use plan of Karelia). –Carry out field survey of the territories of projected nature park “Tulos” and landscape reserve “Koitajoki”. Work out project feasibility for establishing protected areas and send the projects to the regional Ministry of agriculture for consideration. (areas included in the second list for establishing according to the Forest use plan of Karelia). –Carry out field survey of the territories of protective belt of “Kalevalsky” national park. Work out project feasibility for establishing protected area and send the project to the regional Ministry of agriculture for consideration. –Identificate the boarders of the protective belt of “Kostomukshsky” strict nature reserve. Work out project feasibility for establishing protected area and send the project to the Federal Ministry of natural resources for consideration.

54. Results expected in 2009 5 new protected areas established by the Government of Karelia (total area 150 thousand hectares). Territories of 15 planned protected areas officially reserved and excluded from exploitation (total area approx. 500 thous. ha) 40 planned protected areas included in the official plan for scientifical survey of ecologically valuable areas (total area approx. 500 thous. ha). “methodological recommendations for biodiversity conservation in managed forests in Karelia” created.

55. Working at suggestions for sustainable use and conservation “Ladoga skerries” planned nature park Total area, thousand hectares – 220,0 Suggested by “SPOK” and Karelian Research center

56. Working at suggestions for sustainable use and conservation of the areas of “Zaonezsky” planned nature park Total area, thousand. ha - 169,6 (by “SPOK” and Karelian research center)

57. Thanks for your attention!