Segezha Group a leading Russian vertically integrated timber holding with a full logging and added-value wood conversion cycle, is continuing its planned reforestation effort in its lumber harvesting regions. This year, the territories rented and then reforested by the company will exceed 38 thousand hectares. Source: Timberbiz
In 2021, the company committed to increasing reforestation to 33 thousand hectares (or by 13%), but the actual increase amounted to 32% compared with the previous year, with the reforested area reaching 38,647 hectares.
In 2020, the company reforested 29.1 thousand hectares of woodland, 12% more than in 2019.
As part of their reforestation activities, Segezha Group’s enterprises intend to balance out the size of the clearcutting zones and the size of the reforestation zones. Reforestation is taking place in the Republic of Karelia, in Krasnoyarsk Krai and in Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kostroma and Kirov regions.
Natural, artificial and combined reforestation methods are used. Natural reforestation implies the preservation of viable understorey and stimulation of volunteer plants. Artificial and combined reforestation includes planting seeds and seedlings.
Reforestation begins at all harvesting points within three years of harvesting completion and timber haulage. Understorey preservation and mineral enrichment are carried out at the logging sites at the same time.
Forest plants get agrotechnical and silvicultural care to prevent weeds and unwanted shrubs from overtaking the soil, as well as to stop water and wind erosion and frost damage.
As for forest fire spread, the figures in the lands rented by Segezha Group were low this year: less than 0.001% of the company’s forests suffered from fires. The only exception was in the Republic of Karelia, where the situation approached a critical emergency and the forest fires threatened populated areas.
More than 80 Segezha employees and over 20 special vehicles took part in extinguishing forest fires in the Republic. In other regions of Segezha Group’s presence, the situation was under control, even in Krasnoyarsk Krai, where the threat of forest fires is generally high. The areas affected by the fires were subjected to forest pathology studies, the results of which were used by competent authorities as reference for resolving the issues of sanitary felling and rational reforestation.
In total, between May and November this year, Segezha Group will restore 16.8 thousand hectares of forest areas in Krasnoyarsk Krai (against 11.6 thousand hectares last year), 5.2 thousand hectares in the Vologda Region (in 2020, the area was 4.6 thousand hectares), 9.5 thousand hectares in the Republic of Karelia, 4.1 thousand hectares in the Arkhangelsk Region and 3.1 thousand hectares in the Kirov Region (the latter three regions have not seen any year-to-year changes).
