Participants of the Forest Club in their December meeting
	V. Mushtukova, Forest Club President, demonstrates a portable laboratory for testing water pollution. She won this testing kit as an award in 2003 nation-wide environmental contest in Petersburg

At the end of December a meeting of the Forest Club organized as part of the model forest program, took place in Strugi Krasnie. The meeting was devoted to the results of the Pskov Model Forest and perspectives of its further development. Participating in the meeting were representatives of the local administration, forest specialists, community and mass media.

In the beginning, scientific director of the project Boris Romanyuk summarized the project’s work on the establishing of a region-specific model of sustainable forest management. Introducing and testing methods of sustainable forestry was the focus of the Pskov Model Forest since it was launched in 2000. Members and guests of the Forest Club were impressed to hear that this work would proceed during the project’s second phase. Already in the year 2004 project specialists are planning to start work on regional forest management regulations based on the model forest experience in developing economically viable and environmentally responsible forestry practices. The project is also planning to continue extension and training activities for forest specialists and entrepreneurs.

Club members discussed recent happenings related to public life and shared local accomplishments in conservation activities. The model forest project gave a boost to a variety of public initiatives in the district. For example, president of the Forest Club Valentina Mushtukova took part in several national workshops and conferences on nature conservation. Director of Sosnovskiy forest management unit Sergei Marchenko initiated a local forest museum that is scheduled to open in 2004. This is going to be the third nature museum in the area associated with the Pskov Model Forest. Previously, similar expositions opened in the local history museum and in one of the schools. Both expositions were supported by the project’s small grant program.

The Forest Club has proved to be an efficient method of promoting public awareness and involvement. This informal forum gives all interested parties a free access to information and insures their input in the discussion of major forestry-related issues.

	Swedish guests and project leaders in a meeting with Julia Nefedova, head of the Pskov Department of Natural Resources

At the beginning of November two Swedish forest officials visited Pskov Oblast. These were Bert-Åke Näslund from the National Board of Forestry and Håkan Liljeblad representing the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). In a meeting with the head of the Pskov Regional Department of Natural Resources Julia Nefedova and her deputy Mikhail Astafurov, the Swedish guests discussed the Russian-Swedish Forest Sector Cooperation Programme to be funded by Sida and scheduled for the next three-to-five years. The Program consists of three blocks focused on the support for the model forest project, the development of forest policy and training of forest specialists. It is going to cover a number of regions in North and Northwest Russia including Komi Republic, Leningrad, Pskov and Vologda Regions.

Pskov forest administrators expressed their satisfaction with the outcomes of the Pskov Model Forest and indicated their interest in the continuation of the project emphasizing work on the development of regional forest policy. M. Astafurov proposed to complement the educational block of the Program with the forestry college in Pskov Oblast that provides specialized education in forest management.

	Alexander Artemiev, specialist of the Northwest Forest Inventory Enterprise

On November 12^th, forest specialists and administrators from Leningrad Oblast took part in a workshop devoted to the outcomes of the Pskov Model Forest. Among organizations participating in the workshop were the Northwest Forest Inventory Enterprise, the Department of Natural Resources of Leningrad Oblast, Lisino Forestry College and Lubanskiy Forest Management Unit. The goal of the workshop was to work out recommendations for disseminating the model forest experience in the neighboring region. At present the Northwest Forest Inventory Enterprise is the major actor in developing new regulations for the organization and development of forest management in Leningrad Oblast for the period from 2003 to 2012. “Since our enterprise is responsible for the new forest inventory of Leningrad Oblast, we are especially interested in possibilities to adapt the Pskov project’s principles of implementing reforestation, thinning and felling operations, as well as their approach to economic issues”, said Alexander Artemiev, department head of the Northwest Forest Inventory Enterprise.

	Participants of the environmental campaign “Feed the Birds!”

At the beginning of December over 100 students of the secondary school located on the model forest territory took part in the campaign “Feed the Birds!” The campaign was initiated by the WWF Friends Club “Living Planet”. Young nature lovers made feeders and birdhouses for the wintering birds. During the upcoming frosty season they are going to supply various kinds of feed to support birds in the town parks and gardens.

WWF Friends Club was organized two and a half years ago and since that time it has become a noteworthy part in the life of the local community. Conservation and nature studies, environmental campaigns and the ecological theatre comprise the club’s action program. All these activities aim to help young people develop a responsible attitude to the environment.

In November and December project donors and leaders were actively involved in the discussion of the interim phase plan. Among activities to be implemented until July 2004 are the following:

to review and evaluate dissemination activities in Phase I and prepare proposals for further dissemination activities;
to organize a series of workshops to disseminate project outcomes among logging companies and forestry colleges;
to prepare training materials, including pamphlets on SFM and thinning principles;
to make relevant adjustments in the new forest plan and provide technical assistance to the partner company and Leskhoz in its implementation;
to establish a working group for the elaboration of regional forest regulations and to define their purpose and scope;
to prepare a working plan for Phase II.

L. Gerassimova. Welcoming the New Year with the Pskov Model Forest.
“Strugi” (newspaper in Strugo-Krasnenskiy District of Pskov Oblast) #172. 30 December 2003.

Photos by Elena Yablochkina