OREANDA-NEWS. On November 6 at Federal Forestry Agency took place the next 19-th meeting of Montreal Process working group on criteria and indices of preservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests.

At the meeting were present representatives of Rosleskhoz headed by Deputy Head Boris BOLSHAKOV, Director of Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture Alexander PANFILOV, Director of International Center on Forests, VNIILM Andrei FILIPCHUK, as well as members of working group from USA, Canada, Republic of Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The working group of Montreal Process on criteria and indices of preservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests was organized in 1994. At present time the members of it are 12 countries-participants: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, Uruguay and USA. Exactly these countries possess 90% of world temperate and boreal forests, 50% of all world forests, 45% of world wood and wooden products market, and 35% of world population. Criteria and indices (C&I) of Montreal Process allow countries-participants to observe uniformity in conducting monitoring, evaluating national reports on trends and progress in the field of sustainable forest management. C&I help in creating basis for developing forest policy at national level.

In the course of the meeting specialists from Rosleskhoz acquainted members of working group with processes of reforming Russian forest sector within the frames of new Forest Code. They also informed the participants about activities regarding Montreal Process.
One of widely discussed at the meeting topics was an issue of efficient and comprehensive informing public about activities, conducted within the frames of Montreal Process. As it was noted by Director of Science and Development Department, USA Forest Service Richard GOULDIN, all information of international reports compiled by criteria and indices of Montreal Process is of great importance and actuality for forestry of different countries of the world. “Namely C&I present basis for preparing reports regarding all forests of a country, including state and private forests, natural stands and plantations. Proposed criteria and indices of Montreal Process secure uniformity by compiling plans, performing forest inventory, developing forest policy at national and regional levels. They also can serve as model of monitoring and evaluating condition of other natural resources”, pointed out he.