Trading platform 
Monitoring 
Express applications 
Fork Work 
Service 
News 
Directory 
Forests are one of the most valuable natural resources that require sustainable management to provide both the economic benefits they bring and to preserve the ecological services they provide. But how many forests are there in the Komi Republic and what grows there?
Senator Olga Epifanova: According to the data of the Institute of Biology of the Komi Scientific Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 87% of the territory of the Komi Republic is currently covered by forests. As of the beginning of 2023, the forest area of the Komi Republic was 36,273 thousand hectares, which is 87% of the total area of the region. The forest cover in the republic averages 79%, reaching up to 95% in some areas.
In the forests of Komi, trees such as pine, spruce, birch, and larch grow. Coniferous and birch-coniferous forests prevail in the plains. In the foothills, you can find Siberian cedar, while in the mountains of the Northern Urals, there are Siberian fir, spruce, cedar, and birch.
The forests of Komi are among the oldest in Northern Europe and represent a unique combination of vegetation from both the European and Siberian floristic regions.
— Tell us about the role of the forestry industry in the context of agricultural exports of the republic.
Senator Olga Epifanova: Agro-export plays an important role in the development of the Komi Republic. Within the framework of the national project "International Cooperation and Export" since 2019, the regional project "Export of Agricultural Products and Food Industry Products (Republic of Komi)" has been implemented.
Since the beginning of 2023, the Severomorsk Interregional Administration of the Rosselkhoznadzor has certified 24,130 cubic meters of wood fiberboards and plywood for export in the Komi Republic. The main importers of processed wood are China, Mongolia, India, Thailand, Oman, and Brazil.
In January 2025, 120.8 thousand cubic meters of timber were exported from Komi. The main importers at the beginning of the year were China, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Iraq.
— How is the forest restoration process going?
Senator Olga Epifanova: In 2024, forest restoration in Komi exceeded the planned indicators by 4% and reached 104% of the reforestation from the harvested forests. For example, in November 2024, it was found that the reforestation fund area in the Mezhurechensky forestry amounted to 6204.7 hectares.
By 2030, the federal goal is to achieve a reforestation rate of 112%. To achieve this, it is planned to establish its own forest nurseries capable of growing one million seedlings. The nursery will be located on the border with the Vazhyol Reserve.
Currently, compensatory artificial reforestation practice is used in the region, which linear enterprises must fulfill. Thanks to this, the area of restored forests will increase.
According to the latest data, natural forest restoration prevails in Komi, while artificial reforestation accounts for no more than 10% of the total area.
— What are the prospects for the development of the forestry industry in Komi?
Senator Olga Epifanova: Among the prospects for the development of the forestry industry in Komi, the implementation of priority investment projects and support for projects in the deep processing of wood is important. By the beginning of October 2024, four timber industry complex projects were being implemented in the republic with a total value of about 10 billion rubles.
It is necessary to shift the consumption structure towards the use of low-grade wood. This will help reduce resource risks and increase the output of products from one cubic meter of used wood.
Currently, the development of the timber housing industry has become an integral condition for the development of the domestic market of the timber industry products. In Komi, it is planned to build an industrial park of the forestry industry. For example, the "Zelenets" industrial park will appear near Syktyvkar, which will become a production complex with new equipment for deep wood processing. In addition, it is planned to switch boilers to using biofuels to reduce harmful emissions and utilize sawmill waste.
