The document outlines that the area affected by nature fires in 2005 had increased by 20% in comparison with 2004. At the same time, the number of hearths had dicreased by 15%. In 2006, the Ministry predicts an increase in nature fires on the territory of the Russian Federation, especially in Siberia and the Far East.
Number of hearths will increase in Central, Privolzhskiy, and Southern Federal okrug. The dominating reason for such an increase is the growing anthropogenic pressures: more violations of fire safety regulations, increasing volume of forest exploitation, clearing of agricultural land, et.c. This is most notable in Central and Privolzhskiy Federal okrug, where the anthropogenic factor accounts for 87-88% of nature fires.
Even though the Ministry recognizes the reasons for increases in fire, it is yet unclear what it is going to do about it, especially in the conditions. of the collapsing forest protection system
