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Tuva imposes special fire-protection regime in forests

It is forbidden to visit forests during the operation of the special regime, although harvesting of cedar nuts continues

GORNO-ALTAISK, October 8 (Itar-Tass) — The Tuva republican government issued a special fire-protection decision on forests as of this Saturday over autumn wildfires. Its action will last till November 14.

It is forbidden to visit forests during the operation of the special regime, although harvesting of cedar nuts continues. The imposition of this measure is attributed to a higher fire danger in Tuva forests over dry and warm weather, set in here in October.

The republican government instructed the local forestry agency to carry out fire-protection measures on preventing, localising and efficient extinguishing of forest fires as well as on stepping up explanatory work among population and organisations.

Local municipalities in Tuva were prescribed to take measures to create fire-protection spaces among forests and water ponds around towns and villages, to ensure readiness of firefighting teams as well as to mobilise population to localise seats of fire in their territories. They should also specify plans and places for evacuation of population from areas, dangerous for living as well as to offer population stationary or temporary living quarters.

Some 200 wildfires were registered in Tuva since the start of fire-prone season. The total area scorched by fire edges up on 20,000 hectares. A total of 76 fires damaged or destroyed trees over a total area of 2,200 hectares last year.

Forests in Tuva occupy nearly half of the republic’s territory.