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Environmental Offences

The data were provided by the following organizations: Main Department of Internal Affairs in the Irkutsk Region; Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Republic of Buryatia; Department of Internal Affairs in the Zabaykalsky Krai; Siberia Branch of Rosgeolfond FGUNPP 

Environmental Offenses In 2012, within the Baikal Natural Area, the Subdivisions of the Internal Affairs Authorities of the Irkutsk Region, Republic of Buryatia and the Zabaykalsky Krai registered 2,211 administrative offenses relating to environmental protection and natural resources use, which is lower by 33% versus the indicators of the previous year (3,310 offenses).

In 2012, there were recorded 1,481 offenses in the Irkutsk Region (in 2011 -- 1,435). The highest number of offenses (78%) was associated with the use of mechanical transport means with exceedance of rated pollutants contents in the discharges; second place -- non-compliance with the rules of use of wildlife objects -- 8%; release of mechanical transportation means with exceeding rated pollutants contents in discharges -- 4%; non-compliance with fire safety rules in the forests -- 4% out of the total number of identified offenses; unlawful felling of trees and bushes -- 3%; other offenses -- 4%.

In 2012, there were recorded 637 offenses in the Republic of Buryatia (in 2011 -- 1,832 offenses). The main ones are non-compliance with fire safety rules in forests -- 67%; non-compliance with rules of use of wildlife objects -- 20%; unlawful felling of woodland -- 13%. 

In 2012, there were recorded 93 offenses in the Zabaykalsky Krai (in 2011 - 43 offenses). The highest number of offenses -- 42% -- was associated with unlawful felling and damage to woodland; non-compliance with the rules of use of wildlife objects -- 31%; non-compliance with fire safety rules in forests -- 27%. 

Environmental Crimes In 2012, the number of ecological crimes in the Baikal Natural Area versus 2011 decreased by 9% and stood at 2,572 crimes (in 2011 - 2,832 crimes).

In 2012, there were recorded 802 crimes in the Irkutsk Region (in 2011 -- 813 crimes). 94% of the crimes account for unlawful felling of trees and bushes; 3% -- destruction and damage of forests; 2% -- unlawful hunting of water animals and extraction of water plants; 1% -- other crimes.

In 2012, there were recorded 1,145 crimes in the Republic of Buryatia (in 2011 -- 1,234 crimes), out of which: 63% -- unlawful felling of trees and bushes; 20% -- destruction and damage of forests; 15% -- unlawful hunting of water animals and extraction of water plants; 2% -- unlawful hunting and non-compliance of handling environmentally hazardous substances and wastes.

In 2012, there were recorded 625 crimes in the Zabaykalsky Krai (in 2011 -- 785 crimes). The highest number of crimes account for unlawful felling of trees and bushes -- 88%; destruction and damage of forests -- 11%; unlawful hunting of water animals and extraction of water plants; unlawful hunting and non-compliance of handling environmentally hazardous substances and wastes -- 1%. 

The number of registered crimes at the specially protected natural areas is presented in Section Specially Protected Natural Areas. The information on the non-compliance with the legislation in the field of fishing and conservation of water bio-resources is presented in Section Fishing Industry. The number of recorded offenses of administrative legislation when using the small vessels is presented in Section Baikal Fleet.

Conclusions

In 2012, the number of administrative offenses, registered in the Baikal Natural Area, versus 2011, decreased by 33%  (from 3,310 down to 2,211), while the number of crimes decreased by 9% (from 2,832 down to 2,572).

In 2012, the majority of the offenses, registered within the Baikal Natural Area, accounted for:

- use of automobiles with elevated contents of pollutants in emissions (52% of the total number of identified offenses);

- non-compliance with fire safety rules in forests (23%);

- non-compliance with rules of use of wildlife objects (13%);

- unlawful felling of trees and bushes (7%);

The highest number of offenses was registered in the Irkutsk Region -- 67% out of the total number of identified offenses.

The majority of the environmental crimes, registered in the Baikal Natural Area in 2012, were associated with:

- unlawful felling of trees and bushes (79% of the total number of identified crimes);

- destruction and damage to forests (13%);

- unlawful hunting of water animals and extraction of water plants (8%);

The highest number of crimes, as in the previous years, was registered in the territory of the Republic of Buryatia -- 44.5%; The majority of the crimes, associated with unlawful felling of trees, occurred within the Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia.

The main causes for crimes and offenses:

- complicated social and economical conditions of the population;

- insufficient environmental awareness of the population;

- highly active lobbying by Chinese businesses to procure imports of inexpensive wood;

- close location of forest areas to the roads and settlements, hosting woods receipt and dispatch facilities, which simplifies sales of unlawfully felled wood;

- low fines for committed offenses and crimes.

Administrative offenses as regards environmental protection and natural resources use, registered in the Baikal Natural Area, 2009-2012

Source: the materials of the state report on the conditions of the Baikal Lake and measures for its protection in 2012 of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation.