Woods of World Natural Heritage chopped down in Adygea

The Centre named "NABU-Kavkaz" reports that in Adygea, in the territory of World Natural Heritage (WNH) object "Western Caucasus", illegal wood-felling and "other activities, which look quite illegal" continue. The Centre plans to address the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology and UNESCO's Centre of the World Natural Heritage.

"On October 24-26, the workers of the 'NABU-Kavkaz' held another public ecological inspection of the natural sanctuary named 'Upper Reach of Pshekha and Pshekhashkha Rivers' and making part of the WNH object 'Western Caucasus' located in the territory of the Republic of Adygea," Mikhail Plotnikov, head of the Centre, has explained the situation to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Illegal wood-felling is not the only violation of the nature-protection regime in the territory of the Heritage, the source has added. In the Vodopadnaya Meadow, several newly-built structures were detected.

According to the ecologist, once picturesque beechen grove on the edge of the Meadow in front of the waterfalls is now half-cut and sawn down into logs. Instead of century-old trees tables for picnics appeared and some huts of unknown purpose are being built. "We were told later," Mr Plotnikov explained, "that the land plots around the Meadow have already been granted into lease."

After the inspection, the ecologists received explanations from Rashid Belmekhov, head of the Forests Department of Adygea, and Medzhid Khatukhay, Director of the Maikop Forestry, that the violations of the forest-use regulations when making cuts were the result of "voluntary behaviour" of the team that worked there.

"However, the main problem is not in violations of regulation," Mr Plotnikov gave his comment to this answer. "The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology has recognized as illegal any sort of wood-felling in the territory of the WNH 'Western Caucasus' and has forbidden this activity from A to Z! Nobody knows who has sanctioned the construction works there."