This law legalizes clear-cut logging and industrial development of forests in Lake Baikal’s Central Ecological Zone—right in the “heart” of a unique ecosystem. Under the guise of “forestry measures” and “territorial development,” it opens the door to mass logging, infrastructure construction, and commercial projects that were previously unacceptable.
Any relaxation of restrictions on logging and construction here will inevitably lead to soil erosion, water pollution, the collapse of coastal ecosystems, and the loss of habitats for rare species. At the same time, the law contains no transparent and stringent environmental safeguards—decisions can be made behind closed doors, driven by the interests of business and regional elites.
In essence, Baikal is being transformed from a specially protected area into a resource object: piece by piece, its shores and forests can be “developed,” hidden behind formal approvals. That is precisely why the situation requires long-term public monitoring and pressure—to prevent a living lake from being turned into a zone of uncontrolled exploitation.
For more than two years, we ran a continuous campaign to defend Lake Baikal, trying to prevent the legalization of the destruction of its forests. During this time, thousands of appeals were prepared and sent—to the State Duma, the Federation Council, the Government, relevant ministries, oversight agencies, and regional authorities. We demanded official responses, called for environmental justifications, and raised the issue in the media and on social networks.
As the bill was “pushed through” the system, it became clear that an internal struggle was underway: some institutions tried to soften the wording, while others worked to speed up adoption, ignoring environmental risks. Our initiative became part of that resistance—through appeals, public pressure, and uniting people, we made the bill’s path as difficult as possible.
However, despite years of work and massive public support, we were unable to stop its adoption. The law was approved, and now our task is to record the consequences, document violations, and continue the fight to preserve Baikal’s living nature under new, harsher conditions.
The bill has been adopted and is entering the enforcement phase. This means the main danger is shifting from “debates about the law” to concrete decisions: forest-use schemes, lease agreements, “investment projects,” and approvals that will be justified under the new rules. This is especially alarming for Baikal’s coastal areas and its watershed, where every new “clear-cut patch” strikes at the integrity of the ecosystem.
We are now moving the initiative into a mode of continuous monitoring. We want to see exactly how authorities and business will use this law: where new clear-cuts appear, which projects get the green light, how forestry regulations and reporting are changed, and whether there are attempts to expand the practice beyond the originally stated goals. Any case where “development” language is used to effectively destroy valuable natural areas must be documented.
The situation remains critical, but not hopeless. The more data, concrete examples, and expert assessments we collect, the better the chances of challenging harmful decisions in the future, pushing for corrections to implementing regulations, and restoring real protection for Baikal’s forests. Our task is to keep this issue from “disappearing into the shadows” and to show what the adopted law leads to in practice.
How Does Monitoring Work?
Submit a Signal
If you know about any incident related to this issue, please describe it in the form below. Your signal will help us record the problem and respond in time.
All submissions are secure and confidential.
Green Page
All environmental protection instructions will be published on a special "Green Page. Regularly check for updates to participate.
Check InstructionsTelegram Channel
Subscribe to the Telegram channel, this is our coordination center for environmental protection. This way, you'll always be up-to-date on all events, especially in case of blocking or pressure.
Go to TelegramMaterials for Study
Study the materials about the problem carefully.
Tell Your Friends
