Eight clear sanitary cuts have been stopped in Punia heath

According to the Ministry, this was done on its instructions after receiving information that healthy or naturally valuable trees were being cut.

It is also indicated to review other clear sanitary fellings that have not yet been started in the ecosystem protection and recreational forests.

Urédija is asked to refrain from felling undamaged trees, with the exception of firs and trees growing in the protection zones of roads or engineering networks, which could cause damage to persons or their property if they fall or break.

In the Alytus district, Punias sila, surrounded by the Nemunas loop, is one of the most valuable forest massifs in Lithuania. It is part of the European ecological network Natura 2000.

At the beginning of October, members of the public reported the felling of trees in the plot of Šimoniai forest, which falls within a valuable natural area protected by law. In response, the Ministry of the Environment suspended two logging permits, and the Special Investigation Service launched a pre-trial investigation.

The Ministry of the Environment also announced on Monday that it has prepared amendments to the Forest Cutting Rules, which would more strictly regulate clear sanitary cutting.

According to them, such fellings would be carried out only when it is necessary, a rest period would be observed in urban forests during the night, and there would be an obligation to restore the forest by sanitary fellings in intensively thinned stands.

It is proposed to provide that in ecosystem protection and recreational forests clear sanitary felling can only be carried out in dead trees, while clear sanitary felling in group II B and III forests of protected areas will have to leave all intact trees, except for dangerous trees and trees of the first grade (trees of the highest belonging to the group) fir trees.

In order to preserve biological diversity in forests of all groups, it would be mandatory to leave not individual trees at the time of felling, but not less than 5 ares and not more than 5 percent. uncut and undamaged mature forest areas of the stock exchange area. In addition, it would be mandatory to leave all old trees of a certain diameter.

It is planned that the proposed amendments to the Forest Cutting Rules will enter into force later this year.