The new timber harvesting rules include 66 main points, which are divided into four parts.
The general provisions of the rules explain the general concepts of carrying out work on timber harvesting, the requirements for sanitary and fire safety in forest areas. It also focuses on the rules of forest care and restoration work.
Harvesting of wood for the personal needs of citizens is carried out in accordance with established standards. The basis for the work is the existence of a contract of sale of forest stands. For persons living in Siberia, the Far East and the North, timber harvesting for citizens' own needs can be carried out free of charge in the places of their permanent residence and economic activities.
The new rules for harvesting wood include provisions on taxation and allocation of cutting areas, determining permissible norms of cutting areas, as well as the basic rules for carrying out work on marking and establishing the boundaries of cutting areas. According to the rules, you must first establish the boundaries, and then conduct a taxation. At the same time, the qualitative characteristics and volume of wood intended for harvesting are determined. The performance of these works is confirmed by an accounting document (statement of conversion of stands defined for logging).
The new rules for wood harvesting also determine the methods and types of cutting, methods of using wood. Thus, the harvesting of wood can be carried out in the form of clear or selective cutting. Clear cutting is permitted only if the conditions for reforestation are met. The intensity of selective felling is determined in accordance with the volume of wood cut in one go. Appendix No. 2 defines the parameters of the sites for carrying out clear-cut forms of ripe, overripe stands.
The new timber harvesting rules establish the requirements according to which the organization and conduct of harvesting is carried out. A prerequisite is to draw up a development technological map for the cutting areas, according to the data on the withdrawal and taxation. In addition, the routing includes the established deadlines and the technology of harvesting, the layout of roads, warehouses, loading points, parking lots of equipment and other facilities, as well as the area and percentage of conservation of undergrowth and plantings of the second tier. When compiling a map, methods for cleaning from logging residues, types of work that prevent erosion processes, and other characteristics are also indicated.
Upon completion of the harvesting work, the cutting area is inspected and its condition is assessed. The inspection of logging sites is authorized to be carried out by authorized authorities (local or state). A notice is sent to the logger stating the date and time of the inspection of the plots.
Compliance (inconsistencies) with the rules for harvesting operations are indicated in the inspection certificate of the cutting areas. Thus, the forest ranger is endowed with the right to verify the compliance of the cut down forest volume with the permitted standards. In addition, his duties include control of reforestation after felling.
One of the significant points is the ability to postpone the annual deforestation rate for subsequent periods, distributing the limit for three years.
In addition, according to the new provisions in the forest areas, you can not cut down old trees. Previous rules obliged them to cut down, despite the fact that it was not always profitable. According to the adopted rules, a provision has been introduced that allows preserving old plantations.