Federal Law No. 538-FZ amending Forest Code and Water Code related to forest management.

This Federal Law, amending Forest Code, establishes that boundaries of forest fund shall be determined by the boundaries of forest districts. Forests located on forest fund land shall be classified into the following types: (a) protection forest; (b) commercial forest; and (c) reserve forest. The main territorial units of forest management related to conservation, protection, reproduction of forests shall be forest districts, as well as sectional forest districts, which may be constituted within forest district. Forest districts shall be constituted on lands of: (a) forest fund; (b) defense and security, where forests are located; (c) inhabited areas where forests are located; and (d) protected natural areas covered by forests. Management, conservation, protection of forests located within the boundaries of forest district shall be performed in accordance with forest management regulation and forestry plans. Protection forests shall be considered natural forests of particular value and for which shall be applicable special legal regime of management, conservation, protection and reproduction. The following categories of forests shall be classified as protection forest: (a) forests located in protected areas; (b) forests located in water protection zones; (c) forests, performing the functions of protection of natural and other objects; (d) valuable forests; and (e) urban forests. Modification of purposeful (specific) use of protection forest plots shall be prohibited, except for cases envisaged by the federal legislation. The following activities shall be prohibited in forest parks: (a) use of toxic chemicals; (b) hunting; (c) agricultural activities; (d) exploration and mining; and (e) construction, except for construction of waterworks. Water Code shall be amended to add the following wording: “In the process of forest management shall be performed arrangements for the protection of waterbodies envisaged by Water Code”.