The Chairman of the Committee for Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources has signed an order banning all types of logging in the «Yertis Ormany» nature reserve for 5 years.
«Impose a ban for the republican state institution of the state forest nature reserve "Yertis Ormany" on all types of logging (except for the removal of salvageable debris, clearing of glades and thinning cuts) in the forest stands on plots of the state forest fund from the date of entry into force of this Order until 1 January 2029», the document states.
Ensuring control over the implementation of the order has been assigned to the Pavlodar Regional Territorial Inspectorate of Forestry and Wildlife.
Recall that in July, it became known that an organised criminal group led by the General Director of the «Yertis Ormany» reserve is suspected of stealing timber through the illegal sale of wood under the guise of technological and fuel firewood. Due to the criminal actions of the organised criminal group, the state suffered damage amounting to more than 150 million tenge.
It was also reported that Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov called illegal loggers "enemies of the state". The head of government ordered strict control over law and order in the territory of the «Semey Ormany» forest nature reserve, where a major fire occurred in June last year. It claimed the lives of 14 employees. The fire destroyed more than 63,000 hectares of unique relict pine forest. The damage exceeded 160 billion tenge.