The forest complex includes: logging , forestry , chemical and mechanical processing of wood. The raw materials for these industries use the same thing. The difference lies in the production technology and the purpose of the products. In terms of finished products, the leading place is held by the chemical and pulp and paper industries. The woodworking industry leads in the number of operating enterprises.
Russia's forest industry is of great importance in the country's economy. This is due to several factors:
- huge reserves of raw materials;
- territorial distribution of forest resources;
- widespread use in various sectors of the economy (transport, construction, industry, utilities and agriculture).
In our country, one fourth of the world's timber reserves is concentrated. Therefore, Russia's timber industry is the largest in the world. Tree species are dominated by the following:
- coniferous: pine, fir, spruce, larch, cedar;
- deciduous: beech, maple, ash, oak, birch, linden, aspen.
Russia's forest industry is based on three groups of forests. These include:
- protected, pole-protective, recreational forests. In such zones, only “health-improving” felling of trees is carried out, which improves the sanitary condition of the forest belt;
- forests where selective felling is allowed based on annual growth;
- operational area of the forest. In them, the felling of trees can occur constantly.
During the market transformations of the economy, a crisis occurred in the forest industry. Scientific, technical and industrial potential were significantly undermined. As a result of the changes, there has been a decline in production and insufficient use of the cutting area. Significantly reduced investment. As a result, timber processing enterprises (90% of the total) went into private hands.
In the structure of industrial production, the forest industry of Russia ranks seventh in terms of the number of manufactured products, and fifth in the world in terms of exports. A significant role of the forest complex is assigned to farms in the European North. In the country's export deliveries, forest products occupy a leading position. Plywood, lumber, cellulose are subject to export. Such materials have a price below the global average, as they are inferior in quality, processing, presentation and packaging of products of developed countries.
The forest industry is engaged in the harvesting, export and alloying of wood, primary processing and processing (partially) of forest materials. Its main products are “business” wood. Its volume is 80% of the total volume of exported products. Logging is the basic industry of the timber industry.
The availability of raw material resources determines the location of logging. In connection with this factor, the European North has become the leading area for harvesting “business” wood . It gives one third of all industry products. In second place was Eastern Siberia. In third place, the Urals strengthened. In addition to these areas, logging is carried out in the Far East, in Western Siberia, in the Northwest.
The main consumer of “business” wood is the woodworking industry. It produces lumber, plywood, sleepers, boards, building elements, furniture, matches, standard wooden houses.
Summing up, we can say that the Russian forest industry is concentrated in the following economically profitable areas of our country: in the North, the Urals, Western and Eastern Siberia, the Volga-Vyatka region, in the North-West, in the Far East. Our country provides itself with lumber, plywood, cardboard, paper and other wood products.