Innovations in Forest Management, Accounting and Assessment of Forests in Russia in the XIX Century

Relevance. Until now, one of the main problems in the forest industry remains the problem of accounting and saving forests from destruction. Huge damage to forests is caused by illegal logging and fires. It is possible to take into account losses only if we have information about the area of forests growing in Russia. Today, the state is conducting the second stage of the state forest inventory program “Forestry Development” to identify the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Russian forests. Due to the significant amount of work, this stage will last until 2030 inclusive. At the same time, in the history of Russia there are examples of the implementation of programs for accounting for forest lands, the experience of which should be taken into account in the framework of optimizing the modern "forest" policy. In this regard, the presented article acquires special relevance and timeliness. The purpose. Studying the experience of conducting statistical accounting of forest lands in Russia in the middle of the 19th century. Objectives. Within the framework of the article, the following tasks are solved: to assess the reliability of statistical information on the area of forests available to the Forest Department at the time of the start of the implementation of the static accounting program; to identify the features of statistical accounting of forest lands in Russia in the middle of the 19th century; identify the obstacles that have arisen in the way of implementing the state program for accounting for the forests of the Russian Empire and assess their impact on the organization and results of accounting for forest resources. Methodology. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, determinism and objectivity. The article carried out a comprehensive analysis of archival documents and published sources, used the methods of statistics and data comparison, synthesis. The results obtained are based on historical sources. Results. В 1860-х гг. данные о количестве и качестве лесов европейской части Российской империи, несмотря на наличие значительных трудностей, были собраны Министерством государственных иму-ществ по всем губерниям. Сведения были опубликованы в журнале министерства. Conclusion. The implementation of the program of statistical description of forests and the forest industry in the provinces of the European part of the Russian Empire was in itself an innovation. From the time of Catherine II to the 60s. 19th century In the state, an inventory of forest lands has never been carried out. Thus, the program of statistical description of the forests of the provinces of the European part of Russia, launched by the Ministry of State Property at the end of 1858, was the first attempt to obtain reliable information about the area of Russian forests.