Despite the complicated geopolitical situation, no one takes urgent issues off the agenda. The sowing season is coming. Qualitative and timely work of farmers is the pillar of our food security. And while the weather is still freezing, there is time to pay more attention to forestry. A report on restoring order in the forests after the January storm was submitted to the Head of State.
The storm tore down roofs of houses and felled trees like matches. The natural disaster left terrible deadwood areas in the forests. The President instructed the government to deal with the consequences of the disaster in the Belarusian forests. The elements resulted in the excess of almost one million cubic meters of valuable wood. After all, it is not timber that dies in the forests - it's currency.
The President looks to the future too. We cut down forests for ourselves and plant forests for children. Alexander Lukashenko criticizes officials for the slow pace of reforestation. The seedlings from the selection center will arrive at forest enterprises in mid-March. The compliance with technology will allow them to take root by almost 100%. But one will have to be patient to see a real forest. Belarus wants to return 1 million hectares of land occupied by shrub vegetation.
Lukashenko: Every piece of vacant land should be occupied by forests
Almost 30 thousand hectares of forests damaged by the disaster will be restored as well. There was also an instruction to take a serious approach to the inventory of lands. They plan to put almost a million hectares back into circulation. Some part of it will be reclaimed for agriculture, some will be transferred to the forest fund.
The forest fund is not just about nature and weather today. It is a serious resource in our time of need. It is no less important than hydrocarbons. Thinking about it, we modernized the domestic timber processing industry by developing what we are strong at and relying on our own raw materials. The effect was felt by the inflow of export earnings. Today, they are already trying to include the woodworking industry into the sanctions. It is no coincidence that they hit strong competitors. The policy of restrictions is certainly sensitive, but not fatal. Due to the EU sanctions on timber supply, Belarus will have to rearrange the flow of goods. Though logistics will be more difficult, there is no panic in the government. Especially since spring is a great time for renewal and improvement of your own land.
Roadmap for forestry in Belarus and deadline to clean up after hurricane
9 марта 2022












