Verhoturye Forest District upgrades patrols with rugged UAZ Hunter
The Verhoturye Forest District has received a new UAZ Hunter off-road vehicle to boost patrol operations. The vehicle, funded by forest damage compensation, was handed over by the Verhoturye Municipal District administration. It comes equipped with a satellite phone to ensure communication in remote areas. The Sverdlovsk Region Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology oversaw the handover of the vehicle. Funds for the purchase were allocated from the district's budget, specifically from compensation payments for forest damage. The ministry stressed the importance of using these targeted funds effectively for conservation efforts.
The UAZ Hunter is designed for rough forest terrain, improving mobility for patrol teams. Alongside the vehicle, a satellite phone was provided to maintain reliable contact in areas without mobile network coverage. Alexander Melekhin, director of the Verhoturye Forest District, highlighted the phone's role in emergency response, particularly as the wildfire season approaches.
The new equipment will help teams respond faster and coordinate more efficiently during critical situations. The vehicle and satellite phone will be deployed ahead of the upcoming wildfire season. Their addition aims to strengthen forest protection measures in the region. No details are available on whether similar funding models for conservation exist in other Russian regions or German federal states.
