MINSK, 16 October (BelTA) – A forest nursery complex to produce container grown seedlings will be commissioned in Minsk Oblast in November. The complex was established as part of the Forestry Development Project for Belarus using a loan of the World Bank, BelTA learned from Belarusian Forestry Minister Vitaly Drozhzha.
“The forest nursery complex at the Ivatsevichi Forest Enterprise, Brest Oblast, is already up and running. In late October a similar complex will open at the Glubokoye Experimental Forest Enterprise, Vitebsk Oblast. The project capacity is 2.4 million seedlings per year. Construction works are nearing completion in Minsk Oblast. The forest nursery complex will open at the beginning of November. By the way, sowing works have already been performed in one of the greenhouses there. However, the bulk of work will start in March if the weather is favorable,” Vitaly Drozhzha said.
In April 2015 the Government of Belarus represented by the Forestry Ministry, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) signed a loan agreement in line with the Forestry Development Project for Belarus. The IBRD provided a loan in the amount of $40.714 million. These funds were used to build forest nursery centers to produce container grown seedlings, and to purchase machinery and equipment.
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved additional financing to the tune of €12 million in spring 2018. “We have reached a preliminary agreement with the World Bank on possible uses of these funds. Project documents for the construction of three forest nursery complexes in Mogilev Oblast, Gomel Oblast and Grodno Oblast have been elaborated. The works are to start next year. However, we might as well amend the amount of seedlings to be grown in containers in these centers,” the minister noted.
