Forest Certification in Russia in Turbulent Times: Trends and Challenges
Before 2022 Russia had 62 M ha FSC certified forests. After FSC's withdrawal some formerly FSC-certified companies started logging in HCV forests, while many NGOs either halted operations or shifted focus away from nature conservation. Meanwhile the former FSC Russia team started Forest Etalon (FE), a system based on FSC standards. It has just 8.1 M ha certified because other certification schemes emerged as well. Since the latter opted for weaker requirements, it is difficult for FE to compete with them in the absence of strong support.
Russia hosts 25% of the global IFLs and Russian forests are vital for global climate and biodiversity. But today certified forest areas are shrinking, and protection for IFLs and Indigenous rights is inadequate. At the meeting, we will discuss the future of Russia's forests in the light of the global sustainable development agenda and how FSC may help
Andrey Shegolev
Andrey Shchegolev has over 20 years of experience managing forest protection projects. He has worked on the development of national FSC standards and the creation of specially protected natural areas, as well as landscape restoration. He was the Director of the WWF Russia Forest Program and a member of the FSC Russia board.
Anton Doroshin, Russian Register Certification Association
Dr. Anton Doroshin is an expert in forestry and certification. He has extensive experience in research, environmental management, and auditing under international FSC and ISO standards. Graduated from St. Petersburg Forest Technical Academy and received additional education in Europe. Currently Head of Department of Responsible Management of Natural Resources at the Russian Register Certification Association.
Lubov Savulidi, ALM Systems
With over 20 years of experience in management, Lubov is the CEO of ALM Systems - a certification body in Russian voluntary forest certification systems. A seasoned quality management expert, she also holds expertise as a financial analyst, appraiser, and forensic expert in financial and economic matters. Lubov is a prolific author, contributing articles and methodological recommendations in the fields of valuation and financial-economic consulting.
Maria Tysiachniouk, University of Eastern Finland
Maria Tysiachniouk holds an MSc in Environmental Studies from Bard College (NY), a PhD in Biology from the Russian Academy of Sciences, and a PhD in Sociology from Wageningen University (2012). Her career has been dedicated to the study of FSC certification in Russia and internationally. She has served on the FSC-Russia board, consulted for FSC-certified companies, and actively promoted the implementation of FSC social standards.
She is the author of the book Transnational Governance Through Private Authority: The Case of the FSC in Russia. Most recently, she co-authored an article with Alexander Vourbrug in Forest Policy and Economics titled The Transformation of the FSC in Russia After the Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine.
Natalia Malashenko, Kindness of the North Charitable Foundation
Natalia Malashenko is an ESG and communications expert with extensive experience in the forest sector. For 17 years, she led corporate communications and sustainability engagement for UPM in Russia, a global leader in sustainable forestry. Natalia is currently Head of PR at the “Kindness of the North” Foundation and a lecturer on sustainable development. She specializes in stakeholder dialogue, non-financial reporting, and advancing ESG principles in forestry and territorial development.
Nikolay Shmatkov, Forest Etalon
Nikolay Shmatkov has extensive experience in environmental protection organizations, including positions as head of the Forest Program at IUCN, director of the Forest Program at WWF Russia, and director of FSC Russia. Currently, he holds the position of General Director of voluntary forest certification system “Forest Etalon” and Executive Director of Association “National Working Group on Voluntary Forest Certification”.
Event Details
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Thursday, 30 October
Time: 16:30 - 18:00 EST (Panama), 22:30 - 00:00 CET, 05:30 - 07:00 WITA (next day)