Siberian Federal University

The 24th meeting of the Montreal Process Working Group gathered in Krasnoyarsk on August, 18th, 2014. The Montreal Process is about protecting and sustaining temperate and boreal forests.

The meeting attracted researchers from New Zealand, Japan, China, Argentina, Korea, and Switzerland. The attendees also included forest researchers and forest management specialists from Russia, in particular those from Siberian Federal University. They discussed international criteria and indicators for sustainable forest management and wildfire management in various countries. There were field trips and round tables on boreal forests and the problems of researchers, legislators and forest managers collaborating to achieve better results, there was also an excursion to Stolby reserve.

Participants shared their experience in applying the indicators of sustainable forestry, discussed the papers presented by the Montreal Process members, spoke about the perspectives of further collaboration, outlined the Montreal strategy for 2015-2025, and signed the document on the value of the Montreal Process.

Sergey Verkhovets, Vice-Rector (Research and International Collaboration) says Krasnoyarsk area, abundant in forests, interested international research communities early in the twentieth century. It was in 1990 that local researchers started collaborating with international organizations. Krasnoyarsk krai is a pilot region for the forestry projects supported by the World Bank.

«The Montreal Process is a unique event to share knowledge and experience, its criteria and indicators help its member countries to set standards in monitoring forest resources and preparing reports. We hope the Montreal Process week in Krasnoyarsk could result in real impact to improve the forestry in the region and the Montreal Process member countries», — Sergey Verkhovets says.

It has been twenty years since creating the Montreal Process Working Group. It includes twelve countries: Russia, Australia, Argentina, Canada, China, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, the USA, Uruguay, Chile, and Japan. The countries account for 83 per cent of temperate and boreal forests, 49 per cent of the world forest resources, 40% of the world timber trade, and 33% of the world population.