Marking system of wood embedded in the Irkutsk region as a Federal pilot project that allowed three months to reduce illegal deforestation by more than half, announced on December 25 the Governor of the region Sergey Levchenko.

According to experts of the Russian popular front, in 2016, "black loggers" harvested in the Irkutsk region of 1.1 million cubic meters of wood, accounting for 71% of the total volume of illegal logging in Russia. Legal removals in 2016 amounted to in the region of 35.3 million cubic meters (1st place in Russia).

"We September 1, began a pilot project for the labelling of wood - chipping in the forest. During this time [done] 220 thousand ID cards by which you can track each batch of the forest. Illegal logging was reduced by 53% compared to the same period last year", - said Levchenko.

According to the head of the region, the forest service proposed the Irkutsk region to hold a national conference to transfer this experience to other regions. "While I refused. At least, we need to work the first six months of next year, the results were more specific and long-term. While we are only beginning on this project," he said.

On the pilot project

From September 2017 in the Irkutsk region given chips to use for marking each log that will be exported or sold on the territory of Russia. They keep listed in a special database of information about the origin of the wood and ensure that the tree was cut down legally. So in the Irkutsk region is being implemented is developed on behalf of the government of the Russian Federation information system "Lsregister", designed to combat illegal logging and illegal timber sales.

It provides for compulsory registration of points of reception, processing and shipment of timber, and regular reporting of the past through the wood.

Irkutsk oblast is one of the most forest-rich Russian regions, about 83% of the territory of the subject covered with trees. According to the Ministry of natural resources of the region, in 2017, the forest reserves in the region amount to 9.1 billion cubic meters(11.7% of Russian reserves). The government of the Russian Federation Irkutsk oblast was selected as a pilot region for the implementation of the system "Lsregister". Earlier it was reported that other regions, which will extend the application of the marking the forest, the forest service will determine in 2018.