VOLUNTARY FOREST CERTIFICATION AS A WAY TO COMBAT THE DEPLETION OF FOREST RESOURCES IN RUSSIA

Abstract

. The article considers the possibility of using forest certification as a tool to combat the depletion of forest resources in Russia. The historical information about the development of forest certification in the world is given. To justify its use, examples of tighter control over imported products in a number of foreign countries are given. The article describes the process of forest certification development in Russia, provides examples of alternative methods of accounting and verification of timber products, conducted by the domestic legislator, as well as a comparison between certification and other methods of accounting and verification. As an example of the application of the Institute of forest certification abroad is the experience of Finland, including the measures taken at the state level to promote responsible forest management. The pros and cons of intensification of production in the timber industry in Finland are shown. The characteristic of forest certification as a way to combat the reduction of intact forest areas of Russia is given. Positive and negative aspects of forest certification application in the Russian Federation are defined. Possible ways of solving the problem of reducing the territories of intact forests with the help of forest certification are proposed.