Projects
Government Bodies
Flag Tuesday, 19 March 2024
All news
All news
Society
22 April 2017, 11:34

PM: Clean-up following last year's storms largely over in Belarus

SMOLEVICHI DISTRICT, 22 April (BelTA) - The cleaning of the destruction left in the wake of last year's storm in the forests of Belarus is almost completed, Belarus Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov told reporters during the National Clean-Up Day, BelTA has learned.

The prime minister is taking part in the event to plant trees in the Smolevichi Forestry, Minsk Oblast. Participating are also First Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Matyushevsky and Vice Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy, officials of the Council of Ministers Office. The government officials are planting pine and birch trees in the area that was damaged in July 2016.

Last year's storms badly damaged the forest plantations, particularly in Minsk Oblast. “We worked hard to remove fallen trees as quick as possible, recycle wood, part of which was exported. We did a huge job. These were mainly forestries who were doing the clean-up. They had help from Bellesbumprom organizations and other companies,” Andrei Kobyakov said.

Work to overcome the destruction brought by the storms is largely over. These are only the inaccessible parts in the swampy areas that remain uncleared. But we are getting there too,” the prime minister said.

Speaking about the participation of the government official in the National Clean-Up Day, Andrei Kobyakov noted that such work, such change of activity is quite useful.

The storms that swept Belarus on 12-13 July 2016 caused severe damage to the forestry industry: the country lost 4.6 million cubic meters of timber on the area of 12.64 thousand hectares. Minsk Oblast accounted for 83.4% of destruction. Worst affected forestries were in Smolevichi (more than 1.85 million cubic meters) and in Cherven (more than 1.33 million cubic meters).

According to Forestry Minister Mikhail Amelyanovich, in spring 2017 new forests will be planted on the area of more than 5,000 hectares. For reforestation and development the forestry industry uses the funds the World Bank. Now the Bank is considering additional funding for these purposes.

Subscribe to us
Twitter
Recent news from Belarus