Fabricated sanitary fellings: incompetence or abuses?

Experts from the NGO "ForestCom" regularly conduct assessments of forest plantations to ensure compliance with environmental legislation in forestry activities.

Recently, the forest areas of the Yavoriv State Forestry Enterprise "Galsillіs" near the settlements of Bortyatin, Novosilki, and Hlynets in the Yavoriv district of Lviv region became the object of assessment.

As a result of the field inspection, an active selective sanitary felling was discovered near the settlement of Bortyatin in the Sudovyshnytsia territorial community.

During the assessment, it was noted that despite the presence of marking on the stumps of felled trees and on the stump collars of trees designated for felling, there were no markings on the stems indicating the technical suitability of the timber. Therefore, doubts arose regarding the justification for conducting selective sanitary felling since the felled and designated trees were healthy based on the characteristics of their crowns, stems, and cut stumps. Larger diameter trees were felled, not the stunted and other required trees.

We have submitted a request to the forest user regarding the permission documents for the felling, including the presence of a felling permit, felling layout plan, and justification for the felling.

The results of document analysis and comparison with the field inspection findings speak for themselves.

We quote an excerpt from the forest pathology inspection report:

Compartment 40, Sub-Compartment 34, 5.8 hectares.

The plantation is damaged by a complex infestation of bark beetles (predominantly the top bark beetle) and fungi from the ofiostoma group. The needles on the affected trees are pale green or reddish, and the bark is peeling off. Under the remnants of the bark, there are visible galleries and larval tunnels, the breeding chambers of stem pests (large and small pine bark beetles).

The plantation is also damaged by wind. There are trees with broken trunks in more than 2/3 of the upper part of the crown, and the inclination of the trunk exceeds 30 degrees from the vertical axis.

The degree of damage to the plantation is weak. Selective sanitary felling is advisable.

In addition, among the reasons for felling listed in the numbering document, there are cases of tree mortality (that is, being dead or in the process of withering), leaning towards the horizontal axis, and similar reasons.

So what do we see during the field inspection?

It was carried out (note!) during the felling operation, not after its completion. There are no withering or dead trees, let alone dry ones. The needles of standing and felled trees are dark green, not "reddish" as indicated in the forest pathology inspection report. The bark is not peeling off but adheres tightly to the tree trunk. Mechanically damaged areas are exuding resin, indicating that the trees are not withering. The plantation was not damaged by wind, and there are no broken trunks or trunks with an inclination exceeding 30 degrees from the vertical axis. At the same time, trees that should have been felled were left in the area.

These facts are sufficient to conclude that the justification for this felling was falsified. Therefore, the felling should be considered unlawful. The relevant materials have been sent by the NGO "LІіS" to the competent authorities. We are awaiting their response.

The NGO "LІіS" supports sustainable and rational use of forest resources and continues to uncover and publicize cases of non-compliance with established rules and regulations in forest management.

Law enforcement officers should pay attention to similar fellings in this forestry enterprise.

Opinion: “Does this indicate insufficient qualifications of forestry workers or forest pathologists? On the contrary, our forestry personnel are highly qualified professionals. Unfortunately, basic forestry concepts are often distorted in pursuit of maximizing profits. The justifications provided for the allocation of healthy trees for sanitary felling may emerge, but they do not alter the factual situation, which indicates abuse and violation of legislative rules regarding sanitary tree felling."

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