Christmas tree felling

In connection with the approaching Christmas and New Year holidays and the emergence of demand for New Year trees, the Novopolotsk City and District Inspectorate of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection draws the attention of citizens to the possible increase in illegal logging of Norway spruce during the pre-New Year period.

To prevent illegal logging of coniferous trees, during the New Year holidays, the inspectorate, together with employees of the state forestry protection, the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora under the President of the Republic of Belarus, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has planned operational raid activities, organized patrols of forests and checkpoints, where the presence of permits for transporting trees will be checked.

The inspectorate draws attention to the fact that New Year trees can be purchased at special Christmas tree markets organized by legal entities engaged in forestry, and individual entrepreneurs, as well as in forestry establishments and state forest enterprises.

In accordance with Article 16.17 of the Code of the Republic of Belarus on Administrative Offenses:

For illegal logging, or damage to the extent of stopping growth, or destruction of woody and shrub vegetation in protected, recreational and health-improving, and protective forests, a fine is provided:
for citizens in the amount of 5 to 30 basic units,

for individual entrepreneurs – from 20 to 200,

for legal entities – from 50 to 300.

In addition, for each illegally cut New Year tree, the offenders are obliged to compensate for the damage caused to the environment.