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Christina Yushkevych: "We finally started showing the true scale of illegal deforestation"

Forests in Ukraine-more than 10 million hectares. And almost 40%-in the west of the country. Theft and resale of the forest-one of the most profitable shadow businesses in the world. It is estimated at $10 bln. And if we talk about Ukraine, the illicit felling of us reaches 10-15% of the volume of all the harvested wood. But this is unofficial data. What are the true scales of the chopping that today takes place with the forest economy of Ukraine, who cover the illegal deforestation and how to stop it, about it and other we talked with acting head of the state agency of forest Resources of Ukraine Christine Yushkevych.

Kristine Vasilino, you are ready, absolutely honestly, voice the true numbers of illegal deforestation?

In 2015, according to official data, was illegally cut down 24 thousand cubes of the forest. If you speak the language of numbers, these losses can be estimated at almost 85 mln. Uah. As for the year 2016, only for the first six months, the illicit felling increased by 36% with the corresponding period of last year, and amounted to a branch 15.8 thousand. Cubes. But I will be frank-these numbers are far from real. In fact, illicit deforestation in Ukraine is more of a larger character.

However, we will never zmožem calculate the exact percentage of illegal felling, until the unified electronic accounting of wood is created and the base of statistical data of processing and the needs of wood in the state. Yes, to date we have a balance of billet. We know that during the year we procure almost 16 million cubes in the agency and a little more than 3 million cubes – other forest users.

All these are the consequences of national inaction. We have now found a common language with profile ministries. They know about the problem in our industry and in every way we support our initiatives, because we have developed, and now we process the draft regulations on the realization of raw wood.

And why no one has created such a registry?

Apparently, in this way, certain people wanted to hide the real figures of wood billets and exports. After all, it is hundreds of millions of hryvnias that go past the country and settle in the pockets of not only district or regional, but also Kiev patrons. Now we see the desire of the new General Prosecutor’s office and law enforcement officers and SSU to address these issues. I will also be in every way to promote it.

And how then to be? How to stop deforestation?

First of all, you need to transfer all the enterprises to a single electronic accounting wood. By the state forestry such a record was introduced by almost 100%. But there are 27% of forests that are subordinate to other forest users, such as the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Defence and regional councils.

The second thing to do is to increase the responsibility not only for the illegal deforestation, but also for the unfair purchase of woodworking enterprises. If the chain of responsibility is implemented, we can avoid the shadow turnover of the forest in the country. There will be no possibility to be illegal wood – it is a desire to engage in illegal scar. In fact today demand generates a proposal.

It seems that everyone is guilty except for your agency. But most of the Ukrainian forests in your subordination and all, so to speak, arrows should indicate you…

Yes, of course, all the negative, in relation to illegal chopping, the shadow falls on us. The first thing I did when I was appointed to the position of Acting head of agency – began to speak the truth about the true scales of felling. This is a positive dynamics and a first step towards reforming the industry. After all, this information was under the seven seals. It was given verbal disposition to conceal the true extent of illegal felling. They say that the larger performance of the chopping-the worse the work of the agency’s managers in the field. But the world practice shows that the percentage of illegal felling cannot be attributed to the unsatisfactory work of forest wardens, since this phenomenon is a systemic nature and forces one forestry will not be able to solve. A comprehensive approach is needed here. And to begin with, to speak the truth, to show the public the true scale of the problem.

And what are the mechanisms of counting illegal felling you use? How do you generally measure the scale caused by illegal loggers?

In Europe, the number of deforestation is estimated by measuring the volume of wood that enters the intermediate warehouses. Unfortunately, we are far from this. Therefore, the amount of the cut forest is evaluated by technical measurements. Sometimes, when the offence is detected, illegally cut down the forest manages to return-in these cases such wood is taken into account and sold. If the police failed to find illegal loggers, the volume of felling is calculated, based on the data on the measurement of pins.

As part of this work, we finally succeeded in establishing more close interaction with law enforcement bodies to respond more quickly to the facts of illegal chopping. To do this, install a CCTV camera, in some forest-spam use the wires, activate more rail brigades. We plan to expand the authority of forest protection workers-want to amend the legislation and by-laws to settle questions about the use of firearms. So we will make their work safer and more efficient.

In 2012, the European Union came into force regulation of № 995, prohibiting imports of wood and products from it, if the origin of raw materials is not proven. We know that the rounded logs are illegal and in large quantities. So where is the illegal tree?

Everything is not so unequivocally! Today the certificates on wood are issued by the territorial bodies of State forestry. That is, the buyer is obliged to come to us and show the invoice, purchase agreement, export agreement and so on. Everything would be nothing, only the management of a given age to check these documents. But it’s nonsense! For such a short time, we just physically can’t do it. As a result, if the documents have all signatures, all the seals, we are simply obliged to issue a certificate, because for false information is responsible for the person who submits the documents. Therefore, we are technically unable to track corruption factors. Not in our competence to identify counterfeit documents. This should be handled by the fiscal service and law enforcement agencies. We simply have no such authority.

So, because of the imperfection of legislation, illegal wood is quietly legalized. And only post-factions, when the police will find certain violations, will be able to ascertain the true origin of the forest.

To avoid this, you need to do as I have already said a single electronic accounting database. In fact today there are other permanent forest users who can write out the overhead of hand. It is clear that for a certain amount will write whatever document. With the introduction of the electronic base, access to it will be available both by law-enforcers and customs. However, we are transferring all permanent forest users to the Tne-forest, for the internal movement of the forest.

Thus, the origin of the forest can be checked anywhere and at any moment. This will not only destroy the corruption component, but also create all conditions for total control over the circulation of wood.

Your predecessor wrote a statement to release because of the inability to stop the massive deforestation of the forest. If you are in his chair: Why do you think that you will have a correct situation?

To fight illegal deforestation is the task of not only one agency head. It is a problem of law enforcement, customs authorities, the problem of the public and the overall economic situation in the country. All that depends on me-I will do. Moreover, I have already started doing. First of all, we show the real figures of illegal chopping. In addition, point to the specific gaps in the legislation and expose the scheme in which the forest is cut, implemented and exported.

What other problems do you have to face in your work?

Today we, together with Ukrainian, Polish and Austrian scholars, are developing a program for reforming the forestry industry. So we can work not situational, but rather on scientific substantiation. Otherwise, in forestry we do not get rid of chaos and corruption.

While it is necessary to state that we have to face people who ignore the scientific approach in our work. As a result, their vision for reforming is limited only by a short-term prospect. Because of this we have problems, which then have to solve for years.

For example, the issue is now considered to expand the Natural reserve fund up to 15% of the country’s total territory by 2020. But if we take into account the percentage of reserves of forests that are only in the field of State forestry, it is 16%. Even in countries such as Finland and Sweden, where forests are the main natural type of vegetation, the protected area occupies only 11% and 6.3% of the entire area.

I have both hands for the creation of national parks. However, it is necessary to approach this issue rationally. Understand that only wealthy countries can afford such a number of preserves. It is necessary not formally, but really approach to this situation.

Why do we have such vast territories of protected areas? Not every country, except the United States, will be able to incline such a reserved territory.

As I said, we have to face people who are unsystematic to perform their work.

Here we take, for example, the situation with the creation of the National Natural Park “Dniprovsko-Teterevsky”. Here environmentalists require a reserve of more than 30 thousand. hectares of land. This is a very large area, on the installation and retention of which will require tens of millions of hryvnias. But now the State cannot assume such financial responsibility.

That is why, for once and for all to put a point in this discussion, I invited scientists of the authoritative and well-known Ukrainian Research Institute of Forestry and Agroforest Reclamation named after Vysotsky to investigate this territory. We consult with National University of Life and Nature management, national Forestry University and scientific institutions.

So, according to their findings, in this forest has not been in the forest decent work. The fact that access to this territory has been banned for many years – there were hunting grounds of Yanukovych. On the perimeter was armed guards and workers of the state forestry did not go to the cannon shot. Given that this land no one has been worried long enough, now this forest is not in a better position: there is a dry, swamp, which is dried, due to the infringement of hydrological balance. In addition, there is a high level of radiation on a large area, since it is in close proximity to the Chornobyl NPP. Therefore, to create a park there, the territory must first be cleaned. And this requires a huge means that the state today can not allocate.

We do not mind the reserve. But it should be created only where there is all the prerequisites. Given the financial situation of the country, under the park in this area you can allocate a land plot, which is unique and needs to be saved. Now, scientists develop documentation that will allow to understand what territory can be allocated under the creation of the reserve.

I am sure that similar conclusions we get and from experts to other, which also want to allocate under the reserves. That is why we need a comprehensive, system program for scientific justification. The only way we can reform the forestry of Ukraine and stop the illegal deforestation. We develop a tactical and strategic plan to conduct reforms. And soon we will all see fundamental changes in the forest industry.

By materials: www.gazeta.ua