Drones and Neural Networks: Technology Steps In to Protect Baikal’s Forests From Illegal Logging
In late 2025, amid strong public reaction to amendments to Russia’s Baikal protection legislation, a new high-tech initiative was launched to safeguard the lake’s unique ecosystem. The legal changes, which allow clear-cutting in certain cases, made enhanced oversight critically important.
Guarding the Forest
The amendments permit the harvesting of dead forest stands that have lost their “environment-forming, water-protection, health-improving,” and other functions within the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory, ostensibly “for forest regeneration purposes.” At a crucial moment, Russia has developed a comprehensive forest monitoring system for the Baikal region, based on unmanned aerial vehicles and artificial intelligence.
At the heart of the initiative is the concept of a “digital forest ranger” – an automated network capable of conducting round-the-clock surveillance across vast and hard-to-reach territories.
Drones equipped with cameras and sensors will carry out regular patrol flights, collecting massive volumes of data. The core of the system, however, is not the aircraft themselves but its “brain” – neural network algorithms. Operating in near real time, these algorithms analyze video and imagery, trained to recognize specific indicators of violations, including tracks from heavy machinery, clusters of freshly cut timber, unauthorized truck movements, and even acoustic anomalies such as the distinctive sound of chainsaws.
Preserving a Natural Legacy
As the steward of Lake Baikal – a globally significant natural site and a UNESCO World Heritage property – Russia bears a responsibility to deploy the most advanced tools available for its protection.
Modern technologies dramatically improve response speed. Instead of delayed analysis of satellite images or field inspections triggered by complaints, the system automatically flags suspected violations and transmits coordinates and evidence directly to law enforcement and environmental agencies. This creates a powerful deterrent effect and has the potential to significantly reduce the scale of illegal logging.
In the near term, pilot projects are expected in the most vulnerable areas of the Baikal Natural Territory, followed by scaling the system to other forest regions in Russia with high risks of illegal harvesting. Integration of the Russian system into global environmental monitoring platforms is also on the horizon, strengthening the country’s position as a responsible participant in international conservation efforts.
A Global Context
Similar AI-driven UAV systems have been successfully deployed worldwide for several years, supporting conservation projects ranging from anti-poaching operations in African savannas to deforestation monitoring in the Amazon rainforest. In Russia, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has also proposed the use of unmanned aerial systems combined with AI to combat illegal logging.
For Russia, developing its own hardware and software solutions offers a dual opportunity. Domestically, it enables the creation of a unified digital ecosystem for forest management, integrating UAV data with satellite monitoring and GIS platforms operated by the Federal Forestry Agency. Over time, this could form the basis for transparent, near-real-time public reporting. Internationally, the technologies carry export potential, particularly for countries with vast and vulnerable forest resources, including Canada, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa.
