Experts to prepare a draft law on the protection and use of rare and endangered plant species

According to the initiators of the future document, insufficient legislative regulation of this area affects the conservation of biodiversity. The meeting of scientists, biologists, deputies and representatives of the ministry dedicated to these issues was held in the format of a round table, the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia reported on its website.

Irina Makanova, Director of the Department of State Policy and Regulation in the Development of Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Ministry of Natural Resources, noted that work on the law “in defense of plants” was carried out back in 2017, but was never completed. And today it is necessary to resume it, she believes.

“The plant world is undeservedly deprived, unlike the animal world, the law on which has been working for a long time,” the Ministry of Natural Resources quotes Makanova.

According to her, the publication of the second volume of the Red Book of Russia "Plants and Mushrooms" is scheduled for 2023. Today, a list of plants has already been formed, they are being drawn.

“In 2023, the second volume of the Red Book of Russia will be released. This is of key importance, because it should form the basis of the normative legal act proposed for development,” Makanova noted.

Rare and endangered plant species are dying due to invasive pests, which are not prescribed in the established regulatory legal acts, she added.

“Earlier, we had to give clarifications, signed by the Minister of Natural Resources, that can be used in this kind of control of invasive pests in protected areas. And, despite the fact that the document was agreed with Rosleskhoz, Rosprirodnadzor, it still remains an explanatory letter, and we need specific rules of law,” the head of the department emphasized.
As stated in the message of the Ministry of Natural Resources, representatives of the scientific community support such a legislative initiative and are ready to join the working group.

“So, for example, they advise to pay attention to the terminology, to the protection of the genetic diversity of vegetation, which affects the regulation of climate and water regime,” the ministry said.

Separately, according to experts, it is necessary to prescribe the issues of preserving old-growth intact forests.

“We estimated that there are 163 million hectares of old-growth forests – that's 200 years old. And they have the highest level of biodiversity. If there are fewer of them, it means that plant habitats, including rare ones, are disappearing,” said Natalya Lukina, director of the Center for Ecology and Forest Productivity of the Russian Academy of Sciences, whose words are quoted in the message.

In addition, the participants of the round table noted that it is important in the draft law to regulate the work of scientists with materials in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. For example, it is necessary to take into account the right to withdraw and return plants to nature. It is also necessary to study international practice and conduct a legal analysis of existing documents in order to avoid contradictions.