The priority directions in the forestry activity of the forestry association "Volynlis" were reforestation, carrying out thinning cuttings in young stands, and maintaining forest plantations in proper sanitary condition. This was discussed at the extended council of the state forestry association "Volynlis". The association has completed a significant complex of works with a total cost of 9.8 million hryvnias. Only 3.2 million hryvnias of them were financed by the state. The remaining funds were earned by the enterprises of the association. As noted by the general director of the SLFA Bohdan Kolisnyk, last year 3,027 hectares of new forest plantations were created. In forest nurseries, 18.7 million standard seedlings and saplings were grown. To fulfill the sectoral program "Dibrova," 3.3 million pieces of planting material of English oak were grown. The enterprises of the association adhered to a strict policy regarding the conduct of improvement cuttings, the methods of which at one time caused fair criticism from the public. Last year, improvement cuttings were carried out only in high-density plantations on the territory of only three forestry enterprises, and their area totaled only 102 hectares compared to 765 — in 2000. The association has introduced gradual-selective and narrow-strip final felling in the oak and pine economic sections. This will make it possible to more widely introduce into practice the reforestation of the main forest-forming species by natural means. Last year, such cuttings were carried out as an experiment in the Tsuman and Kivertsi state forestry enterprises. Starting this year, they will be applied in all state forestry enterprises. There is as yet no experience in conducting such cuttings in flatland conditions in the country. However, forestry is conducted this way in almost all European countries, including our closest neighbors — the Poles. The most painful issue is unauthorized cuttings. In 2003, 754 cases of unauthorized timber cuttings were detected with a total mass of 1,257 cubic meters. As a result of unauthorized cuttings, losses amounting to 401 thousand hryvnias were inflicted on the forestry. Forest violators voluntarily compensated only 15 percent of the funds; 25 percent was collected compulsorily by court decision. Materials for the remaining accrued amount are under consideration by law enforcement agencies. The issue of protecting the state hunting fund from poachers is particularly acute. Over the past year, 283 protocols were drawn up against violators, including 206 (73%) — by the state forest guard. But no fundamental changes have occurred in the protection of hunting grounds. The Kivertsi, Tsuman, and Shatsk state forestry enterprises drew up only 1-3 protocols each against poachers. The rest of the violators of environmental legislation are thriving. The issue of protection and reproduction of red-listed bison, whose numbers have decreased by more than half over the past five years, is also a concern. Over the past year, the state forestry enterprises of the region processed 170.0 thousand cubic meters of timber and produced output worth 30.5 million hryvnias, which is 3.8 million hryvnias more than the 2002 level. Products worth 58.8 million hryvnias were sold against a plan of 52.4 million. Products worth 31.6 million hryvnias were sold for export. At the council meeting, the results of labor competition in the past year were summarized. The work of the collectives of the Ratne Forestry and Hunting Enterprise, the Liuboml and Horodok state forestry enterprises was recognized as the most effective.