Massive privatization of Russian forest threatened in new law: "Russia has 22% of the forest on earth [843m hectares - 70% of Russia's territory spanning 12 time zones] a very important part of climate stability and global biodiversity because of all the rare species that live there. According to some estimates, Russian forests absorb 15% of the world's carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. It provides a huge amount of oxygen for not just Europe, but the world... At present, private firms can lease some of the land from the government for up to 49 years. The Kremlin heavily regulates its use."

Massive privatization of Russian forest threatened in new law: "Russia has 22% of the forest on earth [843m hectares - 70% of Russia's territory spanning 12 time zones] a very important part of climate stability and global biodiversity because of all the rare species that live there. According to some estimates, Russian forests absorb 15% of the world's carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. It provides a huge amount of oxygen for not just Europe, but the world... At present, private firms can lease some of the land from the government for up to 49 years. The Kremlin heavily regulates its use."