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02 August 2024, 11:14

Lukashenko: Forests damaged by storm should be restored in 2025 

MOZYR DISTRICT, 2 August (BelTA) – During a working visit to Mozyr District Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko demanded restoring forests ravaged by winds throughout next year, BelTA has learned.
 
One of the main issues on the agenda was processing of damaged and fallen trees, which should be followed by reforestation. Individuals, labor collectives, and students should also be involved in this effort. “We should complete reforestation operations next year. We should make plans and schedules during the winter. [Vice Premier Yuri] Shuleiko reported to me yesterday that we have enough seedlings. We need to put things to rights. This is the only way we can salvage these empty patches,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The president demanded the same approach to restoring order in agriculture. In particular, he pointed out to serious problems with plowing the fields in the region, which was clearly visible from the helicopter.

The president familiarized himself with the work to clear wind-fallen trees. The site that he visited used to be a mature forest up to 100 years old. “This forest should have been cleared a long time ago. This is commercial timber. 80-100 years old. You didn't harvest it. Well, God helped you - he felled everything. Now we should remove it as fast as we can,” the Belarusian leader noted.

The head of state remarked that the demand for timber has recovered on the world market, and domestic products will be in demand. Aleksandr Lukashenko urged to come up with an optimal solution how to use additional workforce and equipment. Harvesters should not stay idle in some places, while they are badly needed in other places that were affected by the disaster.

According to the Forestry Ministry, more than 41,000 hectares of forests were damaged by the natural disaster. Some 18,000 hectares are subject to clear-cutting. Of these, 14,000 hectares are located in Gomel Oblast that was affected the most. At present, specialists from 80 forestry enterprises are working in the region.

In total, more than 5 million cubic meters of timber from damaged trees is to be harvested across the country.

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