Results of the work of the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora for 2023
In 2023, the work of the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora was aimed at controlling compliance with environmental legislation, identifying cases of poaching, illegal and inefficient use of natural resources, preventing offenses in this area, and was based on the principle of strict adherence to the laws and other normative acts of the Republic of Belarus.
This work was carried out comprehensively, using available forces and means, based on a regularly conducted analysis of offenses within the territory of responsibility.
The area of responsibility of the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora covers the territories of two districts: Verkhnedvinsk and Rossony. The area of hunting grounds in the two districts is 370 thousand hectares, approximately 220 large and small lakes, and about 20 medium and small rivers, and 259.3 thousand hectares of forest land.
In 2023, the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate conducted 165 field operations to identify and suppress violations of environmental legislation.
In 2023, the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate identified 128 violations of environmental legislation. Of these, 33 violations of the Rules for Fishery Management and Fishing, 19 violations of the Rules for Hunting Management and Hunting, 39 violations of the Rules for Forest Use, and 37 other violations of environmental legislation. The following were seized from offenders:
- firearms – 5 units (including 4 unregistered);
- other hunting tools (snares, traps) – 16 units;
- fishing nets – 274 units (11.37 km);
- other prohibited fishing gear – 84 units;
- illegally obtained fish – 53.5 kg;
- illegally obtained game meat – 304.8 kg.
- illegally harvested timber – 14.5 m3
- confiscated (turned over) to the state revenue – 1 small vessel; 1 vehicle (car).
In 2023, the inspectorate actively carried out work on controlling forest use and forest reproduction. During the work, 146.7 hectares of plots were identified where forestry enterprises of the Verkhnedvinsk and Rossony districts failed to plant forest crops in a timely manner. Active control was carried out over transported timber. 1301.1 m3 of timber was identified as being stored, transported, and sold in violation of the established procedure.
In 2023, penalties amounted to 23,102 rubles, with damages and the cost of illegally obtained products assessed at 107,709 rubles.
In 2023, 6 criminal cases were initiated for violations of environmental legislation, including 1 for illegal hunting, 1 for illegal movement of game products, 3 for illegal actions related to weapons, and 1 under other articles of the Criminal Code. 7 individuals were brought to criminal liability.
Comparing with previous years, the total number of offenses is decreasing, which in turn indicates the diligent work done to identify more serious, hidden, and disguised violations, as well as ongoing preventive measures.
It should be noted that some prohibited fishing and hunting gear was seized from citizens during illegal possession. According to the law, the illegal sale or possession of fishing nets or net materials is prohibited. During the inspection of residential properties, 153 nets with a total length of 6.28 km and 52 other prohibited fishing tools were seized from citizens. This fact indicates that these nets and other prohibited fishing tools did not end up in water bodies and did not cause environmental damage.
As part of the preventive measures carried out by the inspection for the voluntary surrender of prohibited fishing gear, citizens surrendered 73 nets with a total length of 3.04 km and 21 other prohibited fishing tools.
Here are some notable cases of environmental legislation violations:
In January 2023, during field operations, employees of the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for Wildlife Protection detained three local residents from a village in the Rossony district. These individuals illegally hunted one adult pregnant female elk with two embryos in the hunting grounds of Novopolotsk LLC "Evropark" near the village of Bolshiye Osetki in the Rossony district.
Through their unlawful actions, the poachers caused environmental damage equivalent to 900 basic units, totaling 33,300 rubles.
Based on this fact, the Rossony District Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case under Part 4 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.
In July 2023, the court of Rossony District found one of the aforementioned citizens guilty of hunting without a proper permit during a closed season (illegal hunting), causing damage in a particularly large amount, and based on Part 4 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, imposed the following penalty:
- Restriction of liberty for a term of 3 years and 6 months, with placement in an open-type correctional institution, and deprivation of the right to engage in hunting-related activities for a term of 5 years, with a fine of 100 base units, amounting to 3,700 rubles.
The second of the aforementioned citizens was found guilty of illegal movement (transportation) of parts of wild animals, which are classified as hunting objects in accordance with legislative acts, committed in a particularly large amount, and based on Part 3 of Article 2821 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, was sentenced to a fine in favor of the state in the amount of 150 base units, amounting to 5,550 rubles.
The third of the aforementioned citizens was found guilty of illegal movement (transportation) of parts of wild animals, which are classified as hunting objects in accordance with legislative acts, committed in a particularly large amount, and based on Part 3 of Article 2821 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, was sentenced to restriction of liberty for a term of 1 year and 3 months, without placement in an open-type correctional institution, and without deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities.
The offenders had the following confiscated in favor of the state: a "UAZ" vehicle, a knife, and a smooth-bore shotgun.
Analyzing the information on environmental law violations over the past years and conducting continuous preventive work, we generally have, and hope to continue to have in the future, a downward trend in environmental law violations, which in turn indicates the positive work of the inspectorate, as well as the culture and law-abidingness of citizens.
Currently, environmental protection and ecological security issues cannot be successfully resolved by state bodies alone. Therefore, the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Animal and Plant Life continues to successfully cooperate with other environmental protection bodies, law enforcement agencies, other organizations, as well as with the public. In 2023, 139 presentations were made in institutions and organizations, and in the media.
In 2023, the inspection's hotline received 17 reports from individuals and legal entities regarding violations of environmental legislation, which resulted in the identification of 17 violations.
The best indicators of our work, and the reason for the existence of the State Inspectorate, are the preservation and increase of wild animal populations, fish in lakes and rivers, forests, and all natural resources that are so essential for human life, which we must preserve and multiply for our children and grandchildren.
For additional information or reports of poaching, please contact the Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate for the Protection of Fauna and Flora at the following address: Verkhnedvinsk, Sovetskaya St., 193/2, or by calling the inspection's hotline at 6 17 23.
Senior State Inspector
Verkhnedvinsk Inter-district Inspectorate
V.A. Goncheronok