Speaking at the National Forum of Forest Workers, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said: “First and foremost, we must elaborate a long-term policy for the forestry sector, attract investment, protect our forests, re-equip the forestry sector, develop bio-energy and timber processing technology, train personnel, launch scientific dialogue and exchange experience.”

Mr Dvorkovich noted that last year the Government adopted a state programme on the forestry sector development that is designed to ensure its sustainable development. He added that the issues of the forestry sector development will also be discussed at a State Council meeting chaired by President Vladimir Putin. Preparations for the meeting are in full swing and proposals drafted before the forum may be considered, he said.

“The Government's implementation of the programme to provide material and technical equipment to the forest fire services in 2011-2012 has made it possible to develop a forest fire prevention system and to enhance its efficiency,” he said. “This has encouraged our engineers to produce forestry machinery prototypes, some of which are presented today at the equipment exhibition.”

Replying to journalists' questions in the forum lobby, Mr Dvorkovich said that in a month the Government will hold a teleconference on preparations for the fire-prone summer season. He added that the Government has made full use of the forest fire-fighting experience gained last year.

“All lessons have been learned,” he said. "Not all the amounts owed for financial support for fire-fighting have yet been paid in full, and we are now looking for a solution to this issue. We will find it and the regions will receive the funds that they need to prepare for the new season.”

Mr Dvorkovich said that much has been done in the past two to three years to provide the regions with fire-fighting equipment, but the amount of these funds is only about half of what they need.

“We plan to complete this programme in the next few years and to provide the regions with the required equipment, but we will have to see what the budget allows. I cannot say whether or not we will do this in two to three, or five to seven years, because there are some budget restrictions,” he said.