Exploitation of forest biological resources

The current decline in forest biological resources is caused in the main by the over-exploitation of forest resources for the economic gain of the collector, usually an outside agency. Indigenous or local communities rarely benefit from this exploitation. The Convention on Biological Diversity recognises the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological resources is dependent upon regimes of equitable benefit between local communities and those able to exploit the forests wealth of resources. At present there are very few mechanisms for combining the interests of commercial agencies, local people and the ecological needs of forests.

The forest areas of Khabarovsk and Primorie regions in the Russian Far East, intended to form a new nature reserve, will be completely destroyed by logging activities planned by Malasia Company Rimbunan Hidjau in 2000. That is the conclusion made by the experts of the Russian Socio-Ecological Union. The construction of an access road by the Malaysian loggers means the beginning of the industrial opening of the last undisturbed forests of Khabarovsk and Primorie regions. It will result in disruption of the populations of large vertebrates like Amur leopard and tiger and the fragmentation of the unique entire natural complex into many non-valuable parts. Tree harvesting will destroy the traditional life style of the indigenous people who depend on the non-timber forest products and fishing.