Rais of Tatarstan: The republic traditionally attaches special attention to forestry

On 8 August at their meeting in the Government House of the republic, the Rais (Head) of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Russian Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yevgeniy Markov and the Head of the Federal Forestry Agency Ivan Sovetnikov, who came to Kazan to take part in an All-Russia meeting on reforestation and afforestation, discussed issues of cooperation and the development of joint forestry projects.

Speaking at the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov emphasized that the republic traditionally attaches special attention to forestry. More than 17% of its area is covered with forests and today more than 2 300 people work in this branch of economy. “Due to their coordinated work we create thousands of hectares of forest plantations every year and ensure protection of forests from wild fires and illegal logging,” the Rais of the republic stated.