Аннотация:Historically Russia has a very strong base for centralization but not for decentralization.The transition from strongly centralized, multilevel system to decentralized one is a distinguishing feature of forest management in Russia today. Managemenet functions were separated from user-defined functions in forest administration after the downfall of the USSR. The government has reserved forest management function for itself. User-defined functions are being transferred to the private sector, and administrative functions are being transferred from central federal bodies to regional and local ones. A new forest code is being considered by Russian Parlament. Russia is seeking a better way of transferring the administrative, regulative and operational functions from the central government to regional or local forest management levels. The proposed forest code would strengthen the role of regional executive bodies and transfer to local governmants broader authority regarding forest use, forest protection and reforestation.