Firewood harvesting by the public. Rules and liability for violation of legislation

Due to the start of the heating season, many citizens need to purchase and stock firewood.

The Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Animal and Plant Life informs that, in accordance with Article 44 of the Forest Code of the Republic of Belarus, the harvesting of timber from forest fund plots by citizens is carried out for a fee based on an order. An order for the minor sale of standing timber is issued by the forestry, and no more than 50 cubic meters of timber can be harvested under such an order.

According to Article 42 of the Forest Code, a citizen wishing to obtain a plot for timber harvesting shall submit a written application to the forestry office at their place of residence for the provision of a forest fund plot for firewood harvesting, indicating: the purpose of obtaining the forest fund plot, full name, place of residence, the volume of firewood planned for harvesting, and the period for which the forest fund plot is requested.

The legal entity engaged in forestry, its structural unit (forestry office), in accordance with Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 200 of April 26, 2010 "On Administrative Procedures Carried Out by State Bodies and Other Organizations Upon Applications of Citizens," within two working days from the date of application submission, shall review the application and attached documents and, in the absence of grounds for refusal to grant a forest fund plot for forest use, shall grant the forest fund plot by issuing an order to the applicant, provided that the applicant pays the fee for forest use.

After the order is issued, the logging site is transferred to the citizen with the drawing up of an acceptance-transfer act for the logging site. After this, timber harvesting is carried out.

The order serves as the basis for the removal of harvested timber. The removal of harvested timber is carried out only after it has been measured by a forestry employee. The forestry employee shall enter into the order table the volume of actually harvested timber, indicating the species, their last name, first name, patronymic (if any), the date of measurement of the timber in harvested form, to be removed on the day of measurement, and affix their signature.

Violation of timber harvesting rules entails bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with the current legislation.