Joint development: cooperation between Russia and Belarus in the timber industry

Russia holds the lead in timber reserves in the world: our forests account for a fifth of all forest resources on the planet. Of the 795 million hectares of the country's forest fund, 82% are in Siberia and the Far East. In neighboring Belarus, forests cover more than 40% of the territory and the forest industry plays no less a role than in Russia. Joint efforts of the two countries have allowed them to reach a new level of cooperation in the forest industry, especially in the context of economic pressure from European partners.

Development of a forest certification system

In 2022, Russia and Belarus discussed the mutual recognition of forest certificates so that companies could more freely enter international markets. The Russian national system is based on LesEGAIS and FGIS LK, which help track the origin of timber and control supply chains. Belarus also has its own certification system, and the parties agreed to integrate it with Russian standards.

Exchange of experience and joint projects

Russia is interested in Belarusian forestry methods. In 2023, the countries signed a "forest" memorandum aimed at exchanging knowledge on forest restoration and fire monitoring. For example, Belarus shares its experience in targeted reforestation and the use of forest genetics.

Digitalization and integration of systems

One of the most important steps was the agreement on the integration of information systems of Russia and Belarus. Within the framework of the forum "Digital Transformation of the Forest Complex", the parties signed an agreement on the exchange of data between the FGIS LC and EGAIS-Belarus. This will allow tracking the transportation of timber across borders and monitoring its legality.

From 2025, it is planned to connect the ERA-GLONASS satellite system to monitoring. Timber trucks are already equipped with the necessary sensors for data transmission, which will allow monitoring timber transit and compliance with legal requirements.

All these steps are part of a larger process of integration of the two countries in the field of forest management and development of the forest industry complex, aimed at increasing the efficiency of the industry and strengthening its position in international markets.