Russian legislation allows citizens to collect for personal needs in the forest almost everything that does not belong to timber resources. These are mushrooms, medicinal plants, mosses, berries, deadwood, etc. e. Exceptions are rare plants listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. It is also forbidden to export wild plants from the forest on an industrial scale.
What can be collected in the forest?
In the forest, according to Art. 11 of the Forest Code of the Russian Federation , can be harvested for consumption:
- deadwood;
- mushrooms;
- berries;
- medicinal plants;
- birch sap;
- mosses, lichens;
- other forest resources for personal needs and in allowable volumes (for example, it is allowed to carry away mushrooms in a basket). >
Deadwood includes non-timber forest resources that do not show traces of sawing, cutting or signs of life. According to Art. 17 Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia dated 16 July 16, 2018 No. 325, deadwood is considered to be the remains of tree trunks, twigs that are not logging residues and formed as a result of the natural death of trees.
At the same time, dead wood or orphan wood, logs, logging and sawing materials left in the forest are not considered dead wood. Fallen trees that still have foliage are also prohibited from being used as deadwood. They can still serve nature for many years.
What is forbidden to collect in the forest?
Russian legislation allows you to collect almost everything in forest for free. There are only a few restrictions:
- You cannot collect resources on an industrial scale and for the purpose of sale. That is, if a forest inspector finds a citizen with dryers and warehouses for processing and storing mushrooms at the gathering place, he will have questions for him. In in this case, the private person must have in hands documents authorizing the collection of forest gifts for the purposes of commercial activities (lease agreement for a forest plot).
- It is forbidden to harvest and gather mushrooms and wild plants that are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, and also the redbooks of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
- You cannot collect mushrooms and wild plants recognized as narcotic drugs (in in accordance with Federal Law No. 3-FZ “On” narcotic drugs and “psychotropic substances”.
In addition to federal restrictions, each subject of the Russian Federation has additional regional regulations that control the collection of forest resources.
What threatens violators of forest legislation?
According to Art. 8.25 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, for illegal logging, damage to forest plantations or unauthorized digging of trees, shrubs and lianas in forests, a fine is provided:
- up to 5,000 rubles for individuals persons;
- up to 30 000 rubles for officials;
- up to 70 000 rubles for legal entities.
Also, for violation of the law (for illegal logging), they can confiscate products of illegal nature management and seize tools for committing an administrative offense.
Collecting and harvesting of prohibited wild plants entails an administrative fine:
- for an individual — in amount from 500 to 1,000 rubles with confiscation of the instrument for committing an administrative offense, as well as products of illegal nature management;
- for officials — from 1,000 to 2,000 rubles similarly with the subsequent confiscation of tools and products;
- for legal entities — from 10 000 to 20 000 rubles also with subsequent confiscation of tools and products.
Sources:
http://ivo.garant.ru /#/document/12150845/paragraph/48:0
https://docs.cntd.ru/document/550865335
http://www.consultant.ru/document /cons_doc_LAW_34661/322db8e22d7aff2b08bdc692ac0ad3bd92189075/
https://dumatv.ru/news/sborom-valezhnika-v-2021-godu-zaimutsya-po-novomu