On the Formation of Administrative and Legal Regulation of the Forest Climate Projects Implementation in Russia

Abstract

The paper discusses the features of the administrative and legal regulation of forest climate projects being formed in Russia. Russia has one fifth of the world’s forests, which play an important role in the country’s carbon balance, compensate for almost 30% of national anthropogenic emissions and determine the potential for the implementation of forest climate projects in the country. Forest climate projects are one of the types of climate projects, the legal framework of which is established by Federal Law No. 296‑FZ of 02.07.2021 «On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions» and regulations adopted in accordance with it. However, general approaches do not take into account some features of forest climate projects, such as the long-term nature of projects, the need to maintain the result for decades at high risks of losses due to forest fires, illegal logging, insect pests, etc. That is, it is important to further develop the regulatory framework, taking into account the special requirements for forest climate projects, as well as the norms of state forest management and relevant international practices, including those formed under the auspices of the Paris Agreement. The paper analyzes the rights and obligations of participants involved in the implementation of forest-climatic projects, and the possibility of implementing projects on the lands of the forest fund and agricultural lands. Approaches to eliminate the existing legal gaps are proposed.