An Effective System of Forest Protection in Belarus

Belarus is the only post-Soviet state where the Soviet system of forest protection was preserved and developed, the Minister of Forestry of Belarus said in Minsk on September 15.

Belarus is the only post-Soviet state where the Soviet system of forest protection was preserved and developed, the Minister of Forestry of Belarus said in Minsk on September 15.

"We have two systems of fire extinguishing. The first one is the Ministry of Emergency Situations air forces usage; we put out the fire with water. The second one is deploying Ministry of Emergency Situations pumping stations in the line by means of which the fires are eliminated. If necessary, we lay water main pipelines for 12 miles "- M. Amelyanovich told reporters about the peculiarities of the Belarusian forest protection mechanism.

"This system was created in the Soviet era, but we alone in the post-Soviet area preserved it, - M. Amelyanovich said. – And thanks to this system we have saved almost all the forests in this abnormally hot weather. "

M. Amelyanovich highlighted the invaluable support from the state. "Forests in Belarus do not burn due to the support of the state - he said. - There have been attempts to move us to self-financing, but we have proved that forest conservation is necessary to allocate budget funds. " "In Europe as well all States are providing funds for forest management", - the Minister concluded.

The efficiency of the Belarusian forest protection model arose interest in the administration of President Dmitry Medvedev. According to Mikhail Amelyanovich, the Minister of Forestry of Belarus, a day after the report on Belarusian forest protection was shown on the TVC channel; Naryshkin the head of the administration of President Medvedev called him. In the reportage it was underlined that Belarus has virtually no wood and peat burn.

In the course of the reporting the journalists were shown Uzda forestry, the Belarussian forest service for detection demonstrated their work, patrol, fire suppression, and the Minister of Forestry answered their questions. Moreover, the Minister stressed that a visit to forestry is not ostentatious. "I believe that Udzensky forestry is the average one, but there is video surveillance there", - M. Amelyanovich said.

During the telephone conversation with Naryshkin the head of the administration of President Medvedev, the latter expressed doubts about the veracity of the information showed in the report. However, after the confirmation of information revealed in the TVC report by M. Amelyanovich, Naryshkin got interested in the system of forest fires fighting in Belarus. According to the Minister, who replied Naryshkin questions, he emphasized the conservation of the Soviet system of forest protection, as well as the invaluable support of the state.