On August 29th, FOREST Project II, in cooperation with the Ministry of Natural Resources of Khabarovsk Krai, put on a seminar focused on understanding the environmental problems identified NGOs, as well as state and municipal organs in protecting Russia’s environment, particularly the forest. Implemented at the Khabarovsk Institute of Environment and Ecology, a number of Russian Far East NGOs inquired as to their future role and necessity in helping Russia craft environmental policy. Important questions were raised on the overall environmental management of the forest, and tackling prominent issues in the Russian Far East such as illegal logging and pollution of the local rivers such as the Amur. This USAID sponsored seminar clearly showed that the Russian population of the RFE and NGOs are interested in taking an active part in determining the future of their forests and ecology.

On August 25 a city conference “NGO Contribution into Social and Economic Development of
Blagoveschensk” took place in Blagoveschensk. Over 53 representatives of NGOs, Administration of Amurskaya  Oblast  and Blagoveschensk, and Department of Federal Registration Office in Amurskaya Oblast participated in the conference. Conference participants valued NGOs contribution into social and economic development of Blagoveschensk. They thanked the local self-government for the conditions created for NGOs participation in city life. Representatives of the City Administration, deputies of the City Duma and NGOs dwelled on better cooperation of Administration and NGOs in future. The conference was divided into two sections: “NGOs contribution into social development of the city” and “NGOs contribution into economic development of the city”. Both of them developed suggestions on better cooperation that were discussed and then included into the conference resolution.

BISNIS Sakhalin representative Elena Sabirova assisted US companies at the 7th Annual Oil and Gas infrastructure SIGOLD Exhibition in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Island, Russia, August 23-25, 2005. This is the only annual forum in the Russian Far East devoted to equipment and technologies for exploring mineral resources and developing infrastructure for related industries, and it provides an opportunity for companies to meet with operators and primary contractors for Sakhalin’s multibillion dollar oil and gas development projects.
Two U.S. companies attended the show as a result of receiving BISNIS market reports about oil business developments on Sakhalin, including information on the trade show. One of the firms was an Alaska-based camp facilities company. A second was making its first visit to Russia; BISNIS provided market and related assistance to the company during their weeklong stay on the island, and also supported their business development efforts at the show. This company learned that there is a demand for their products on Sakhalin. Both U.S. companies were also able to meet a representative of Exxon who had specially arrived from Houston to meet companies at SIGOLD and talk about contracting possibilities. BISNIS also assisted a third U.S. company that had provided catalogs for the show.

During August 12, 2005 a reunion of NGO’s of Khabarovsk Krai took place at Verkhny Urgal town which is 300 km north from City of Khabarovsk. The Verkhnebureinski protected area hosted reunion. Representatives of 12 ecological NGO’s, Forest Service, science and local government were attendant in the reunion. Mr. Vladimir Sidorov and Mr. Roman Tatarchuck – managers of Khabarovsk branch of the NGO All Russia nature Protection Society have been hired by FOREST project to deliver a presentation and present a poster about illegal logging and FLEG (Forestry Law Enforcement Government) process. The audience was familiarized about what FLEG process is, what FOREST project is going to accomplish in this area and how NGO’s can cooperate in prevention of illegal logging. Due to a presentation, local NGO’s expressed a request in conducting of a special seminar dedicated to FLEG.

On August 2, 2005, USAID’s FOREST II (Forest Resources and Technologies) Project conducted a round-table discussion in Khabarovsk focused on the need to develop regulations for silviculture operations on the forested leasehold lands, as well as what every leaseholder should know to properly proceed. Representatives of NGOs such as the Far East Forest Research Institute, as well as the Khabarovsk Krai regional administration, and Far East Certification Center and Institute of Economic Research attended and brainstormed on these issues sharing ideas of what should be considered in these new areas as forested land is made more available to citizens under leasing arrangements. They also looked at a possible range of problems as the current Forest Code is transitioned to a draft under consideration. As an outcome of this meeting it was determined to formulate a list of consultants that should be involved identifying issues in these regards and developing documentation for consideration. Ms. Larisa Vachaeva, Director of the Forest Resources Department, for the Khabarovsk Krai regional administration commented that this work will be integral to Khabarovsk particularly in the area of “What every leaseholder should know.” Khabarovsk Krai hopes that FOREST II’s work will provide grate deal of assistance to leaseholders helping them understand areas that may not be very clear, which will assist in current reforms in forest sector, as well as potential requirements that may need to be raised to forestry management agencies in the federal Russian Government.