14:16, 26 November 2008

Adygea: facts of logging in the territory of World Natural Heritage are checked by law enforcers

Not only ecologists, but also law enforcement bodies have registered the facts of forest felling in the territory of the object of the World Natural Heritage (WNH) "Western Caucasus" in Adygea. In the next few days, criminal cases will be initiated on these facts.

"The facts were revealed by the commission comprising workers of the Prosecutor's Office, ROVD (District Interior Department) of the Maikop District of Adygea and members of our organization," Andrei Rudomakha, head of the Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "On November 21-22, we inspected the places of logging in the Maikop Forestry."

The most claimant violations were revealed in the 45th section, where the crew of logging operator K. Partalyan worked, Mr Rudomakha has noted. There, the felling was conducted on a very abrupt slope falling to the Pravaya Chuba stream. According to forestry regulations, logging on such slopes are prohibited in the principle, since they lead to extensive erosion, windfall timber and degradation of ecosystems in the area.

Author: Aslan Shazzo, CK correspondent