MINSK, 4 February (BelTA) - More than Br7 billion will be earmarked to finance the state program "Belarusian Forest" in 2021-2025. Appropriate resolution No.52 of 28 January 2021 was officially published on the national legal internet portal on 4 February, BelTA has learned.
The forest area is projected to increase to 40.3% of the country's territory, the volume of timber harvesting to 3.2 cubic meters per one hectare, and average annual stock to 225 cubic meters per 1 hectare. At least 580.3km of new forest roads will be built in the next five years.
The population of elk is expected to make up 100% of the optimal number of this species, that of red deer - 37%, roe deer - 80%. The state program notes that the actual number of these species has been increasing and in 2019 totaled 41,700 individuals in elk population, 26,200 red deer, 109,200 roe deer, which accounted for 97%, 27% and 67% of their optimal numbers, respectively.
Production of paper and cardboard in natural terms is projected to rise 2.1 times, pulp - 1.7 times, boards - 1.1 times. Furniture production (in actual prices) is expected to grow by 1.3 times over 2020.
The strategic goal of the forestry industry is to ensure rational processing of raw materials and sale of high value-added products. Currently, the share of timber products stands at 5.2% of GDP. With the use of capabilities of new enterprises this share is forecast to grow to 5.5-5.7% of the national GDP.
