Russian Police Use Drones to Crack Down on Illegal Logging
In Siberia’s Altai Territory, drones are transforming forest protection by enabling real-time monitoring and rapid response to poaching activity.
In the Altai Territory, drones are now widely deployed to patrol forests. During routine flights, they record suspicious activity, such as equipment transporting freshly cut timber.
Rapid response teams are dispatched immediately to the site of illegal logging, often catching offenders in the act. The police seize all freshly harvested wood as well as the machinery used by the perpetrators.
Losses from a single such crime can amount to millions of rubles (tens of thousands of dollars).
The deployment of drones marks a significant leap in environmental security. These technologies automate monitoring across vast and hard-to-reach territories, ensuring instant reaction to threats. The approach greatly increases the risks for violators and serves as a powerful deterrent against illegal logging.
