OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2011. On September 20 Head of Karelia Andrei Nelidov met Russia's leading scientists studying issues of forest management.

Rector of Moscow State Forest University Viktor Sanayev and Academician Nikolai Moiseyev arrived in Karelia to take part in the international scientific conference timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Faculty of Forest Engineering of Petrozavodsk State University. Along with the Rector of PetrSU Anatoly Voronin and Vice-rector for Innovation and Production Activities Ilya Shegelman the scientists have met with the Head of the republic.

The conversation concerned foundations of the development of forestry in Russia. Viktor Sanayev mentioned that the scientists have come to Andrei Nelidov as both to the Head of Karelia and to their colleague, since Andrei Nelidov has a rank of the Doctor of Economics, has scientific publications in the sphere of forest economy, and has been dealing with these scientific issues for a long time.

Viktor Sanayev has offered to make Karelia in 2012 a venue for the Government Council on the Development of the Forest Sector chaired by Viktor Zubkov, First Deputy Prime Minister. As a member of the working group of the Council, Viktor Sanayev has offered to make personnel training for a forestry and introduction of innovations in this branch the main issue of the session. "Karelia is a capital for the forest sector of the country. The more so that Petrozavodsk State University has a perfect training ground," – Viktor Sanayev said.

In turn, Academician Nikolai Moiseyev has offered to discuss the whole strategy of the Russian forest sector development as exemplified by Karelia. In his opinion, the time has come for significant intensification of forest management that will provide raw material for operating and new woodworking enterprises, to increase government revenues from forest utilization. At that, new technologies already developed by scientists will provide attitude of care towards nature and will allow to preserve the ecological balance.

Andrei Nelidov has supported the idea to make Petrozavodsk a venue for the session of the Government Council and has offered to make Karelia Russia's main gound for introduction of innovations in forest regulation. "Karelia may be granted the status of a Russia's innovation ground in the sphere of forest management. The special status will make it possible to run the experiment at the level of the region and to recommend to make the corresponding amendments to the Forestry Code of Russia," – Head of the republic said.

To continue cooperation between the Government of Karelia and Russian scientists it was decided at the meeting to sign the agreement on strategic partnership with the education and methodics association of forest universities of the country chaired by Viktor Sanayev.