By planting a birch tree on the Chekhov Alley near the Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov signaled the start of the tree-planting campaign One Million Trees for the Volgograd Region, where, during the autumn, one million young trees will be planted. Viktor Zubkov put forward this initiative in his speech at the opening of the International Research and Practice Conference on Protective Afforestation in Russia.

In particular, Viktor Zubkov said the following:

"I am glad to welcome you here to Volgograd at the international research and practice conference on forest protection and reforestation.

You know that the United Nations declared 2011 the International Year of Forests. Its main tagline – "Forests for life, forests for people" – encompasses the issues that we are going to discuss.

Russia accounts for one-quarter of the global forest reserves. This is a strategic and, unlike other natural organic resources, renewable resource.

Therefore, reforestation is key to Russian forest economics. The Russian government is conducting comprehensive measures to support this area of forest management. An unprecedented 2 billion roubles were released this year to establish 30 seed and plant-breeding centres. About the same amount will be allocated for these purposes in 2012 and 2013. One such centre has already been opened in the Republic of Tatarstan. Other such centres will be set up in six Russian regions before the end of 2011, and this work will continue across the country. The Volgograd Region, with its traditionally strong interest in forest management, also plans to establish a modern seed and plant-breeding centre.

Forest regulations are being improved upon. In particular, they have approved new protective afforestation methods to distribute funds across regions for forest protection and reforestation. The industry funding almost doubled this year to a total of 36 billion roubles, including 11.4 billion roubles for firefighting, which is 5 times greater than in 2010. Subsidies in the amount of 5 billion roubles were provided for retrofitting forest firefighting services.

These measures have already brought tangible results.

The frequency and coverage of wild fires are significantly down. About 20,000 wildfires were detected and put out since the beginning of the fire season in Russia. That's a large number, but it's down one-third compared with 2010 and one-quarter compared with previous years.

Forest services are now functioning much faster and more professionally. I would like to say sincere words of appreciation to forest rangers. They are doing a very important job, a job that's now regaining its prestige.

The choice of Volgograd as the venue for today's conference is not accidental. Protective afforestation is very important for southern Russia, given it is home to Russia's most valuable farmlands. Protective forest strips go beyond protecting fertile land. They also contribute to preserving a beneficial environment for humans. Entire generations of arborists who planted protective forests had a good understanding of it. It's comforting to know that modern researchers continue these traditions.

I would like to say a few words about the Volgograd Region. It is a good example of the practical use of vast experience and great scientific potential currently available in protective afforestation. This year, the All-Russia R&D Institute of Forest Melioration industry leader turns 80. I am confident that the institute will remain at the forefront of Russian forestry science.

Russian regions play an important role as practical users of advanced methods and pioneering designs. Primarily, their work is based on understanding and the support of the public, particularly, the youth. It's very important to continue to foster an attitude of caring for forests and increase public awareness of the forest regulations. Most importantly, the everyday citizen should be more actively involved in planting new forests.

As part of the International Year of Forests, this year they conducted the all-Russian campaign The National Day of Forest Planting, which enjoyed wide participation of over 200,000 volunteers.

Such functions should be held on an annual basis and involve large masses of people. Today, we are starting another campaign – One Million Trees for the Volgograd Region – whereby one million trees will be planted in the Volgograd Region during the autumn. Let this campaign be our first step in raising the level of our responsibility towards nature and our children's' future, which we are building here and now.

To conclude, I would like to thank all Volgograd residents for their support in organising and holding this conference.

I wish all its participants success, and have fun!"