Russian, Chinese WWF sections join efforts to preserve Far East forest

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AFP) Jun 23, 2004
Global environmental pressure group WWF's Russian and Chinese sections early Wednesday decided to join efforts to preserve the forest in the Amur river region, straddling the Russian Far East and North-East China, officials said.

The joint program, called the "Amur Green Belt," calls for joint field work to preserve the forest from illegal logging and exportation of animals and plants living in it.

International cooperation was essential to preserve the forest's natural resources, said Russian WWF project coordinator Denis Smirnov.

"We cannot solve the problems posed by the preservation of the forest's biodiversity without the involvement of the international community," Smirnov said.

"In some cases, the (Russian) authorities cannot solve the problems or do not understand them, or the Russian legislation does not give them the possibility to act," he added.

According to WWF data, up to three million hectares (7.5 million acres) of forest have been destroyed over the past 15 years in Russia's Far East region, due to illegal logging and fires.

TERRA.WIRE