| Sergei Mironov joined the “greens” The new edition of the Forest Code, approved by the government in March, unexpectedly found an influential opponent - Speaker of the Federation Council Sergei Mironov. Previously, while implementing an environmental program known only to him, he concentrated on protecting muskrats, but now all Russian forests, which, as is known, cover two-thirds of the country’s territory, have become the subject of his care.
As you know, the draft new edition of the Forest Code introduces private ownership of forests. The developers of the code tried to maximally protect the Russian part of the “green lungs of the planet” from unfair use. It will be possible to become the owner of a forest plot only after 15 years of bona fide lease, the right to which, in turn, can only be obtained at an auction.
Despite all the restrictions, the government's intention to introduce the institution of private ownership of forest lands caused a lot of criticism. Moreover, opponents of the new Forest Code, among whom Mr. Mironov was, are not convinced even by the example of the Land Code, which introduced private ownership of land. After all, the mass sale of the Motherland, as some predicted, did not happen.
Speaking at a meeting of the Council of Legislators, the speaker of the upper house said that “raising the issue of private ownership of forests causes a storm of indignation among millions of Russians.” This storm, however, did not unbalance the developer of the code, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mukhamed Tsikanov. “World practice does not know any other way to increase the efficiency of forest management,” he said. At the same time, however, the deputy minister said that he was ready to finalize the bill, but he would not give up the main thing: he would insist on private ownership of the forest.
It is still difficult to say how Sergei Mironov’s opposition will affect the future fate of the document. Opposition from a formally third party in the state could, in principle, seriously complicate the passage of the code in the Federation Council. However, we must not forget that the third person has a favorite first. It should be recalled that even Mr. Mironov was elected to the presidency of Russia in order to support Vladimir Vladimirovich. So the “principled position” of the head of the upper house should not be taken too seriously. If the Kremlin considers that private ownership of forests will benefit Russia, Mr. Mironov’s opposition will pass like childhood measles or mumps. Without a trace.
Moreover, not all members of the Federation Council share the opinion of their leader. For example, the head of the Federation Council Committee on Industrial Policy, Valentin Zavadnikov, believes that private property in the forest is quite acceptable. “From my point of view, the code should more clearly and clearly state that there should be different forms of ownership,” he told the Vremya Novostei newspaper.
Mr. Mironov will be able to argue with his colleague only in a week. At the end of yesterday's debate on Russian timber, he left for an official week-long visit to Brazil and Chile. Apparently, including in order to get acquainted with the experience of protecting the virgin forests of the Amazon. Vera SITNINA |
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