Evgeny Lyulin: "Preserving forests is an investment in the ecological security of future generations."

      On July 23, a mobile working meeting of the Legislative Assembly Committee on Ecology and Natural Resources was held in the Borsk district. Chaired by Vladislav Atmakhov, participants including Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Denis Bakiev, Minister of Forest Management Roman Vorobyev, representatives of the government, and forest guards assessed the consequences of recent windfalls and blowdowns, as well as inspected the technical equipment of the Borsky Forest Fire Station (LPS) type III.

      The deputies visited the Borsky Forest Fire Station (LPS) type III — one of the largest in the region. Participants were shown firefighting equipment: six specialized fire tanks, tractors, long-range unmanned aerial vehicles for forest monitoring, and equipment for clearing areas.

      "The Ministry of Forest Management and Wildlife Protection of the Nizhny Novgorod Region actively implements and applies advanced developments in its work. Unmanned aviation is highly effective not only for detecting forest fires at an early stage but also for assessing forest resources, identifying illegal logging, evaluating fire damage, pests, and diseases, as well as monitoring forest recovery. It is necessary to gradually extend the positive experience of the ministry’s use of UAVs to other sectors," noted Denis Bakiev.

      Special attention was also given to a mobile command point based on an off-road vehicle equipped with satellite communication, which coordinates the fight against large fires.

      Next, the parliamentarians inspected areas of forest affected by recent windfalls. It was also noted at the meeting that the Nizhny Novgorod Region ranked among the top 15 regions in Russia for the effectiveness of sanitary measures: in 2024, 1,276 hectares of forest were cleared. To accelerate ecosystem recovery, the "Healthy Forest" campaign is underway, through which 1.6 hectares of damaged areas have been cleared in the Bogorodsky forestry.

      "The format of the off-site meeting provides an opportunity to comprehensively and specifically evaluate the situation on the ground. It is an effective mechanism for interaction among all key parties — the regional ministry, the legislative body, specialists from the Forest Protection Center, and forest users. Together, we can promptly identify systemic issues and develop proposals for improving regulatory frameworks. Regular monitoring and sanitary surveys of the forest fund are essential elements of preventative work aimed at preserving forest ecosystems," stressed Roman Vorobyev, Minister of Forest Management and Wildlife Protection of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      The key issue identified during the working meeting was the long duration of procedures from the detection of windfalls to complete clearance. Several measures have already been taken to address this, including the conclusion of a tripartite agreement between the Ministry of Forest Management of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the Forest Protection Center, and forest users, which optimized some procedures and partially reduced the review timeline. However, despite this, the timelines remain quite lengthy, leading not only to the loss of timber quality but also negatively affecting the sanitary and fire safety conditions in the forests. It was decided to consolidate all recommendations that could help optimize inspection and approval timelines and to send a relevant appeal to federal authorities. Additionally, considering that this problem is relevant for all regions of Russia, it was proposed to discuss it at the session of the Council of Legislators of the Volga Federal District.

      "Off-site working meetings allow not only to identify problems on the ground but also to develop solutions promptly. Today, we have seen that bureaucratic procedures need to be reduced to restore forests more quickly after natural disasters. Forests are our strategic resource, and their protection requires coordinated efforts from all agencies," noted Vladislav Atmakhov, Chair of the Ecology Committee.

      As noted by the Chair of the Legislative Assembly, Evgeny Lyulin: "The work carried out is an example of a systemic approach to environmental protection. Technical equipment of fire stations, clearing damaged areas, and digitizing processes strengthen ecological safety. Today, it is crucial to provide the opportunity for immediate elimination of the consequences of adverse weather conditions. Only then can we preserve the region’s forests for future generations."