News & Events in Belarus
Lukashenko wants nature reserves developed wisely, examines ‘village of the future’
MINSK, 31 October (BelTA) – It is necessary to wisely develop territories of nature reserves. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko gave the instruction as he was made familiar with the beautification of the central farmstead of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve – the village of Domzheritsy, BelTA has learned. The village is being developed in accordance with a “village of the future” concept.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “People should live in nature reserves in kind of small islands. Creating these small islands in places where people live like Domzheritsy is the idea.”
The president gave instructions to engage in forestry operations and agriculture in a wise manner in addition to nature conservation efforts in such places in order to keep the territories in good order.
“If you live on the land, you need to engage in agriculture. You need a household plot,” the head of state noted.
The same applies to individual plots where commercial operations can be developed. “These small bits should not be surrendered to nature since they are cleansed of trees and shrubs. They should produce results. As a timber mill in some places. As an agricultural operation. I am ready to help with a bit of money in order to develop it,” the head of state said.
“I am not saying for what purpose you will work on the land. We have plenty of milk and meat. If you use it for hunting, for fishing, be my guest, it is up to you,” the president added.
Speaking about the development and beautification of Domzheritsy, the head of state spoke in positive terms about what he had seen: “It is a good village. I hope our agrotowns will be like that. Well done for making such a village. Apart from that, you bring reinforced concrete and bricks here. Everything should be made out of wood,” the president said as he evaluated the beautification efforts.
The head of state was informed that at present Domzheritsy is home to 372 people. There are no problems with employment. All the necessary social infrastructure has been preserved and modernized, including a kindergarten and a school. The boiler house burns local fuels.
2025 marks 100 years since the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve was founded. Large-scale reconstruction and modernization of the central farmstead in the village of Domzheritsy have been accomplished ahead of this date. Housing construction is in progress. The manufacturing infrastructure has been renovated: a timber processing workshop has been set up.
“It is right. It is the future. I will encourage people to come here and learn how agrotowns should be developed,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed. “All of it should be documented, inventoried and things should be done the way they are here in several years (it is impossible to do it right away).”
The president remarked that all of it lies within the scope of the overall important task of preserving the countryside in Belarus and developing it. “It is an example of what the countryside we want to preserve should be,” the head of state stated. “Save the countryside. It is a number one priority for me. I have always paid most serious attention to it. The state cannot exist without the countryside.”
“Closer to nature! And these reserved areas should be used for the sake of that. I would like our people to benefit from it somehow,” the head of state said. For instance, if a 120-year-old tree falls, one should not wait for it to rot. It is necessary to carefully extract it and use it for manufacturing in order to get profits, the head of state encouraged. “We have plenty of overseers, who will not allow unethical business. But the resources should be used. They are our treasure,” the president said.
“You don’t have to worry that we’ve built this small [timber processing] workshop here. It’s been done for the people. In addition to that we’ve built social and sport facilities. What for? So that people could live. And how will they live if they don’t make money? We’ve enabled conditions for them. I hope that things everywhere will be like they are here in about ten years. This is why 80% is the nature reserve while 20% can be used for logging,” the president said. “But never ever to the detriment of nature. I am even more radical about it than you are. We should preserve this corner for the children. This is what makes Belarus beautiful.”
Altruism does not fit the modern world. Relations are organized bearing in mind profit-making opportunities. For instance, U.S. President Donald Trump demonstrates this approach. “Everything is [based on] money for him. He told Europeans: do you want to fight in Ukraine? Go ahead and fight. Do you want American weapons? They are available. Pay up and we will give you weapons. Nobody will give you anything for nothing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out. “Is it pragmatic? It is. It is cynical at times but pragmatic. Should we give anything for free? No. Pay up. If you pay, we will make things. If you don’t pay, we’ll say goodbye. This is life.”
At the same time the president made it clear that in no way does he call for “fouling up Belarus”. On the contrary, a wise approach to nature management is the idea.
For instance, large volumes of valuable raw materials should not be simply left to rot in the woods. It is necessary to wisely and efficiently use wood as a valuable resource, of which the country has sufficient amounts. In this regard Belarus is ready to work on its own and cooperate with foreign investors in the course of implementation of major projects just like it is being done as part of the project to build a pulp and cardboard mill in Vitebsk Oblast together with Oman. “They will invest money. They are welcome to. Let’s jointly process the timber that we cannot process on our own at times. And I often criticize our executives for the abundance of windfall. They pick up everything, pile it up but they cannot process it. It is necessary to build manufacturing facilities. And like these [compact facilities in Domzheritsy] in order to produce what people need. If foreigners want to work in Belarus, then they should bring money and we will process together,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
The viability of such projects (big ones and more local ones) is explained by the fact that there are not many forests left in Europe. “As I say, there are no forests to the south of Kiev. But we have them. Forests, clean water, and clean air. What else do we need to live a normal life?” the president wondered.
At the same time Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed the importance of careful attitude to all the natural resources. “Certainly, keep it in order. We cannot ruin these sacred places,” the Belarusian leader noted.
Aleksandr Lukashenko was informed that the air in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is 300 times cleaner than the air in Minsk.
“Our people have yet to appreciate and understand where they live. It is a sacred place,” the head of state stressed. “Particularly when you are young. And even now many don’t appreciate it. Until they become sick. And your health comes from here. Where you live, you have to work there, breathe in this air, drink water, and eat local food. Health depends on it. And you cannot buy health. It is the most important resource for people.”
As a very positive thing the president remarked that young people are not intent on leaving these places for large cities and continue living and working in these places. “Although where would you go from here? Your air is 300 times better than that in Minsk. A school, a kindergarten, a job – all the essential things are available. Everything depends on how you will work. The most important thing is that your products sell and are in demand,” the Belarusian leader said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko admitted that a lot of things he had seen in Domzheritsy had surprised him although it is not easy to surprise him after many years in the office of the president and thanks to colossal experience. “I was surprised to see you in the center of this massive forest. I was flying here on board a helicopter and saw forest everywhere and then I saw this pearl here!” the president shared his impressions. He stressed that it is necessary to build sanatoriums and resorts of this kind and it is necessary to preserve places like this. The state budget will allocate the necessary money. “We should replicate it all over the country,” the head of state encouraged.
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