Environmental authorities have warned residents of the North Kazakhstan Region about administrative liability for tapping birch sap.
According to the MIA "Kazinform", Saule Suleimenova, a specialist from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management of the North Kazakhstan Region, noted that with the arrival of spring, birch sap, consumed as a tonic drink, is in high demand.
"Lovers of birch sap, with the arrival of warm days, take knives, axes, and containers and head into the forest. To obtain birch sap, they mercilessly damage the trees. As a result, the trees are harmed, and the wounds inflicted by people take a long time to heal. Such trees quickly rot, and various infections dangerous to plants can penetrate the soil through the areas where the bark has been removed. Birch sap is important for the trees themselves; it performs the function of transporting nutrients to the branches, thanks to which the tree 'wakes up' and continues to grow, forming buds," says Saule Suleimenova.
According to her, the legal collection of birch sap is carried out in the state forest fund on areas potentially designated for felling.
"To collect sap, legal entities and individual entrepreneurs must have a forest permit issued by the state forestry service. To obtain information about forest areas where birch sap collection can be carried out, you need to contact the forestry service at your place of residence," the report states.
As it became known, for illegal birch sap collection, a fine of 10 MCI (39,320 tenge) is imposed for individuals, 30 MCI (117,960 tenge) for officials and small business entities, 50 MCI (196,600 tenge) for medium-sized businesses, and 100 MCI (393,200 tenge) for large businesses.