Focus on digitalization and re-equipment: Vitebsk State Forest Experimental Station held a final board meeting on the results of work for 2020
In 2020, Vitebsk forestry enterprises managed to fulfill all socio-economic development indicators and increased their revenue by 25%. In last year's fire-hazardous season, thanks to proper preparation and organization, major forest fires were avoided; 32 out of 34 were extinguished by the forestry enterprises themselves.
– There are always concerns and difficulties associated with the soil and weather conditions of the northern region, forest diseases, and the human factor, – emphasized Yuri Zablotsky, General Director of the Vitebsk State Production Forestry Association. – But it is gratifying to note that today more than half of the forestry enterprises in the Vitebsk region are economically stable. For 2020, our total export product volume amounted to 32.4 million dollars.
This year has been declared the Year of Forest Cultures by the Ministry of Forestry, so the focus is on high-quality forest reproduction, modernization, and the acquisition of equipment that will expand the range of work performed. Also, due to the growing demand for timber raw materials, an increase in its harvesting volume is planned. To increase the volume of timber processing and the output of sawn timber, it is planned to install drying complexes at the Богушевский and Полоцкий forestry enterprises, and a sawing line at the Городокский forestry enterprise.
Vladimir Krech specifically noted that the increase in revenue, employee wages, and export product volume of the Vitebsk region's forestry enterprises allows them to compete in foreign and domestic markets, as well as to look to the future with confidence.
A pleasant conclusion to the event was the awarding of forestry enterprises that achieved the best results last year. The honorable first place went to the Лепельский forestry enterprise.