The illegal destruction of forests causes significant environmental and material damage, and therefore is a serious offense. The penalty for cutting trees is significant - its amount can reach hundreds of thousands of rubles. Any citizen who has committed an unauthorized log cabin, whether an individual entrepreneur or a summer resident, is called to account.
Legislation
Illegal removal of trees is considered to be felling carried out without special permission. Representatives of bodies of local self-government or forest protection (foresters) are entitled to draw up and issue such documentation. A fine for cutting down a tree in a city or forest zone is imposed in case of unauthorized actions in the municipal and federal territories.
Violators of the law are prosecuted by the state forest guard, employees of the environmental or ordinary police. When detained, offenders climb into the ward. Equipment and tools with which logging was carried out are seized. Punishment is imposed in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.
Criminal liability
Illegal destruction of forest stands is an environmental crime and is considered by article 260 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Protected plant sites include trees, vines and shrubs. In order to get under criminal liability, it is not necessary to eliminate a significant part of the forest, it is enough to damage the plantation without the possibility of its restoration. Such acts are also punishable by law.
Owners of cottages and landowners should know about the law. The fine for cutting down a tree on its plot is due to citizens who have committed an offense on land bordering the territory of protected nature. Those are, for example, zoos, nature reserves.
As a punishment, a fine is provided for cutting trees, which may be accompanied by additions in the form of work, restrictions on activity, removal from office or imprisonment. The scale of the offense is assessed according to the damage caused and is classified as:
- significant - from 5 thousand rubles;
- large - from 50 thousand;
- especially large - 150 thousand rubles. and higher.
From this indicator depends on what will be the fine for unauthorized cutting of trees. The amount of damage is calculated by the representative of the forest guard. Preventive measures are determined by the court.
Administrative responsibility
Damage and unauthorized digging of forest vegetation are administrative offenses and are considered in Article 8, paragraph 28 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation. The penalty is a fine for cutting trees. In addition, the confiscation of machinery and equipment with which this violation was committed is possible.
Illegal acquisition, mining, storage or marketing of timber also applies administrative violations and are subject to monetary penalties, the amount of which is determined by the responsible official.
Penalties
For offenders who have committed a criminal offense, a significant fine is imposed. For felling trees in a large amount (the amount of up to 50 thousand rubles. Damage) a monetary penalty is assigned, which can reach 500 thousand rubles. Persons who have committed crimes by taking advantage of their official position, or have caused major damage by their deed, are required to pay from five hundred thousand to a million rubles.Violations, the sizes of which are assessed as especially large, entail a fine in the amount of one to three million rubles.
In the case of an administrative offense, the following monetary penalties are provided:
- individuals - up to 4 thousand rubles;
- authorized persons - up to 40 thousand rubles;
- organizations - up to 300 thousand rubles.
For the use of mechanisms and special equipment, resulting in damage to forest stands, a fine is also charged:
- for individuals - up to 5 thousand rubles;
- for authorized persons - 20-40 thousand rubles;
- for legal organizations - from 200 to 300 thousand rubles.
Other types of punishments
For committing a criminal offense, not only monetary sanctions are provided. Depending on the damage caused, the court may impose other types of punishments.
Significant size (from 5 thousand rubles):
- recovery of a sum of money equal to the size of the salary or any other income (for a period of up to 3 years);
- compulsory work - not more than four hundred eighty hours;
- correctional labor - no more than 2 years;
- forced labor - no more than 2 years with or without a fine;
- Imprisonment of up to 2 years with or without a fine.
Large size (from 50 thousand damage):
- recovery of a sum of money equal to the size of wages or other income (for a period of up to 4 years);
- forced labor up to 4 years with or without a fine;
- imprisonment of up to 4 years with or without a fine;
- deprivation of the right to receive certain posts and occupation by specific types of activity - up to 3 years.
Extra large size (from 150 thousand rubles):
- recovery of a fine equal to the sum of any material income (for a period of up to 5 years);
- forced labor - up to 5 years with or without a fine;
- imprisonment of up to 7 years with or without a fine;
- deprivation of the right to receive certain posts and occupation by specific types of activity - up to 3 years.
Sanctions for a group of attackers
A fine for cutting trees in a forest by a group of people is equated to a penalty for the largest amount of damage. In cases where the destruction of trees was carried out by an organized group or as a result of a preliminary agreement, the most severe preventive measures are imposed - a fine of up to three million rubles or imprisonment for up to seven years.
