The Kirov region entrusted the restoration of forests to rain and sun.

      The Kirov region remains one of the most forested areas in the country, with 63% of its territory occupied by green massifs. However, the methods of caring for this wealth changed significantly last year. Instead of active human intervention, forest ecosystems are increasingly being allowed to cope on their own. According to the regional Ministry of Forestry and Kirovstat, in 2025, natural forest restoration accounted for 85.6% of all areas where relevant work was carried out. This means that in most of the territory, specialists simply allowed nature to regenerate itself—without seedlings, without planting, relying on rain, sun, and natural seed dispersal. Traditional artificial forest restoration accounted for only 13.4%. The combined method, which combines manual labor and natural processes, took a symbolic 1%. The total volume of reforestation activities amounted to 27.7 thousand hectares, which is 4.1% less than the previous year. Funding for this area also decreased to 210.7 million rubles, which is 3% lower than the 2024 figure. The activity in thinning operations decreased even more dramatically. In 2025, such work took place on 16.6 thousand hectares—8.6% less than a year ago. Almost half of these were thinning and cleaning operations aimed at forming young growth. Costs for forest care also decreased, dropping to 219.2 million rubles. The most dramatic reduction affected sanitary and health-improving measures. Their volumes collapsed almost by half—to 0.2 thousand hectares. At the same time, preventive work to protect against pests was maintained almost at last year's level: 7.9 thousand hectares were treated. The region's forestry strategy in 2025 appears as a gradual retreat of humans and a transfer of initiative to nature. The question is how quickly the forest will be able to adapt to such trust and whether the savings in budget funds will lead to long-term ecological risks.