Forest Stewardship Council of Russia has awarded a commendation to ecological organizations and lumber companies that took part in the creation of Dvinsko-Pinezhsky state landscape reserve in the Arkhangelsk region. The decree on creation of the reserve was signed by the Governor of the Arkhangelsk region Igor Orlov on October 1.

The commendation from FSC of Russia for the contribution into the preservation of old-growth forests and creation of Dvinsko-Pinezhsky nature reserve was awarded to:

• The Governor of the Arkhangelsk region Igor Orlov,
• WWF of Russia,
• Greenpeace of Russia,
• GC Titan,
• Arkhangelsk PPM JSC*,
• Sawmill 25 CJSC.

The day before, Nikolay Shmatkov, director of FSC of Russia, awarded the first commendations at the meeting of FSC international members from Europe and CIS, namely to Andrey Shchegolev, director of WWF-Russia’s Forest Program, and Yuri Trubin, head of Forestry department of GC Titan.

Dvinsko-Pinezhsky nature reserve comprises a unique area of intact northern taiga in the interfluve of the Northern Dina and Pinega, with the surface of more than 300 thousand hectares. These forests are extremely valuable because until now they haven’t been affected by human economic activity and have remained unchanged for many thousands of years. Intact forests regulate the climate of the territory, purify the air and reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, they are rich in flora and fauna.

Creation of the nature reserve is based on the agreements between environmental organizations and wood enterprises on refusal to cut valuable forests, concluded as a result of voluntary FSC certification.

*license code of JSC "Arkhangelsk pulp and paper mill" - FSC-C002853