The Government of the Republic of Dagestan has outlined a new strategy to tackle a significant increase in forest fires, focusing on innovative technology and preventive measures. The plan was developed during a meeting on forestry sector development, chaired by Prime Minister Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov and held on the instruction of Head of the Republic Sergei Melikov.

In his opening remarks, Abdulmuslimov emphasized the urgent need to address systemic challenges, including a rise in fires, illegal logging and chronic underfunding. "The forest is our common wealth; we are obliged to protect and enhance it" - the Prime Minister stated.

Vagab Abdulhamidov, Head of the Republican Forestry Committee, reported that the surge in fires was linked to abnormally dry and hot weather. A primary challenge is combating fires in hard-to-reach mountainous areas, where delivering personnel and equipment can take up to five hours and using aviation is often ineffective and costly.

To address this, the government considers a novel solution: purchasing cargo drones capable of carrying up to 100 kg. These drones would enable the rapid delivery of water and essential supplies directly to fire sites.
Key preventive measures for 2026 include:

•    Installation of 40 video surveillance cameras in high-risk areas worth RUB 21.1 million
•    Equipping all forest firefighting vehicles with GLONASS monitoring systems for improved coordination

The meeting also highlighted reforestation progress issues. 464 hectares restored in 2025 under the national "Ecological Wellbeing" project were reported. A key asset is the republic's own forest nursery, which produces up to 900,000 seedlings annually. Following the discussions, Prime Minister Abdulmuslimov issued a series of specific instructions to the Forestry Committee aimed at improving operational efficiency and systematically resolving the sector's accumulated issues.