In recent reporting on Russia’s forestry management, the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) agencies reduced deforestation activity by 31 percent. Data for 2022 show that they prepared 1.27 million cubic meters of timber. This indicator reached a minimum level within the last five years, according to Roslesinforg, the forest accounting authority. These figures illustrate how the scale of logging conducted by FSIN-affiliated operations compares with large national timber enterprises and how monitorable it remains over time.
Observations note that FSIN logging activity continues to sit at a level comparable to major Russian timber producers. In the most recent year, institutions under FSIN ranked tenth among all timber harvesters in Russia, with an eighth-place standing the year prior in 2021, highlighting a notable but variable position in the sector’s landscape.
Logging operations involve prison labor at facilities located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Arkhangelsk Region, and Irkutsk Region. Within these areas, the most significant reductions were recorded: a 43 percent decrease in the Krasnoyarsk Territory equating to 333 thousand cubic meters, a 35 percent drop in Arkhangelsk Region amounting to 189 thousand cubic meters, and a 23 percent decline in the Irkutsk Region, totaling 450 thousand cubic meters. These shifts reflect changing operational practices and regional conditions that influence timber output.
Roslesinforg identified two key factors behind the decline in logging attributed to FSIN agencies. First, the involvement of prisoners in the special military operation (SVO), which has implications for labor utilization and scheduling. Second, revisions to reporting forms, which have altered how harvest data are recorded and reported across the system. These factors together help explain the observed downward trend in timber production numbers.
In broader context, the discussion surrounding environmental civil society initiatives includes remarks from Russian officials about Greenpeace activities. The former Prosecutor General of Russia described Greenpeace as undesirable within the country, arguing that its actions challenge constitutional order and security. Prosecutors have asserted that certain environmental campaigns may be linked to promoting political positions or impacting economic foundations. Greenpeace has previously drawn attention to potential legislative proposals from the State Duma concerning logging near protected areas such as Lake Baikal, signaling the ongoing tension between conservation objectives and forestry operations. These debates highlight the complexity of balancing environmental considerations with state and regional development needs, especially in regions with substantial timber resources and sensitive ecosystems. (Attribution: Roslesinforg, government and environmental bodies)”