A team of volunteer papermakers joined the traditional “Garden of Memory” campaign covering all Russian regions and timed to coincide with the Great Victory Day. 4,000 pine seedlings have been planted on the territory of the Moshevsky forestry enterprise. This is just a small part of the large-scale reforestation efforts carried out by JSC “Solikamskbumprom”. Annually, the company allocates significant funds to purchase coniferous seedlings and plant them on leased lands, as well as on public areas affected by forest fires.
Volunteers plant 27 million trees annually in memory of everyone who died during the war. This year, in the Solikamsk municipal district, the event was held on the territory of the Moshovsky forestry. A few years ago, the forest in this area was damaged by fire and needs to be restored.The event began with a brief master class: Dmitry Gennadyevich Gilyov, Director of the State Institution "Solikamsk Forestry," demonstrated the planting technology, which allows creating maximum conditions for successful acclimatization of seedlings. Armed with Kolesov's planting irons and planting tubes, volunteers spread out across a pre-prepared area. The campaign was both a collaborative effort and a warm, family-friendly occasion. It was attended by employees of several structural divisions of the company, as well as children of paper makers, who together with adults honored the memory of the heroes of the old times, gladly touched the environmental movement and learned a lot of new things by talking to experienced forestry workers and reforestation specialists of Solikamskbumprom.
12-year-old Alena shared her experience: “I planted pines with Evgeny Viktorovich (Evgeny Tsvetkov, Deputy Head of the Logging Department — author's note). I really liked it. We did a good deed. While working, he told us about plants and trees. For example, artificially grown seedlings look different fr om those sprouted naturally. I was interested to know how to plant trees properly and how many years they will grow. I am glad that I was able to come to this event”.
Within two hours, the hectare-sized area was dotted with young saplings. Experts estimate over 90% will take root, meaning a new pine forest will rustle here in decades to come again.
– I am participating in the campaign for the first time. Excellent team, wonderful weather, positive atmosphere, — shares his impressions Ruslan Vladimirovich Bekker, the senior master of operation of the timber carrier shop. — I think such campaigns are necessary: they remembered our heroes (I am sure that every family has them!), and planted a forest, and communicated with colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. A good, kind event.
Tired but happy volunteers met again in a forest clearing, wh ere they tasted aromatic rich pilaf and real stewed potatoes cooked on a fire. They happily shared their emotions with each other and came to the common conclusion that doing good deeds is useful and interesting, and agreed to meet again at a similar event in September of this year.
Expert Commentary
Veniamin Nikolaevich Zalesov, Head of Forest Management Department, JSC “Solikamskbumprom”:
“The staff and management of Solikamskbumprom are very sensitive to preserving the history of our Motherland. We have been supporting the "Garden of Memory" campaign for the sixth year in a row. The company's funds are used to purchase seedlings and branded merchandise — T-shirts, baseball caps, badges. I would like to note that the memorial events in which the paper mill employees participate are held not only in public areas. We have leased areas where we also carry out reforestation. For example, last Friday, my colleague Elena Valentinovna Usanina joined a similar event in Kochevskoye Forestry. In general, we can confidently say that Solikamskbumprom has a well-considered policy in the field of ecology and nature management. Every year we carry out activities to protect, defend and restore forests. The main share is, of course, natural reforestation, but we also do artificial reforestation. Planting material is regularly purchased and transferred to each forestry enterprise in the territories of presence. On average, at least half a million seedlings are planted annually at the expense of JSC Solikamskbumprom.”