Article in Russian
Reference for citation: Litvinova N.A. Gavrilyuk E.S. Izotova A.G. Burtsev D.S. Theoretical foundations of the system of payments for the use of forest resources: from the rent concept to modern models. Scientific journal NRU ITMO. Series «Economics and Environmental Management». 2026. № 2. Р. 119-128. DOI: 10.17586/2310-1172-2026-19-2-119-128.

Abstract. This article examines the theoretical foundations for developing a forest resource payment system in the context of transforming approaches to natural resource management. The relevance of the study is due to the limited effectiveness of the current pricing model, which is characterized by a weak connection to market conditions and insufficient consideration of the natural and economic differentiation of resources and the ecosystem functions of forests. The aim of the study is to develop theoretical approaches and substantiate areas for improving the forest resource payment system based on the integration of rent, market, and institutional mechanisms. As a result, the key limitations of existing pricing models are identified and the author proposes a structure for the payment system, including a fee for the right of use, a fee for the extraction of resources, differentiating coefficients, and an ecosystem component. It is shown that the integration of these elements allows for increased accuracy in the extraction of rent income and the effectiveness of forest management regulation. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the substantiation of an integrated payment model focused on taking into account market, environmental, and economic factors.

Read the full article 

Keywords: payment for the use of forest resources; forest rent; economics of forest resources; ecosystem services of forests; state regulation of forest use.

Acknowledgement: Исследование выполнено в рамках государственного задания Федерального агентства лесного хозяйства от 26.12.2024 г. № 053-00005-25-00 по теме «Разработка научно обоснованных предложений по повышению бюджетной эффективности введения лесного хозяйства, экономической и финансовой устойчивости хозяйствующих субъектов в условиях больших вызовов» (шифр: 2-Э25 – лесные доходы)

References:

1.         Pearce D.W., Turner R.K. Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. – Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1990. –378 p.

2.         Amacher G.S., Ollikainen M. Prices versus Quantities in Forest Regulation, Forest Policy and Economics, March 1, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2023.103032.

3.         Pyzhev A.I., Zander E.V., Pyzheva Yu.I. Problems of estimating natural rent in the Russian forest complex // Problems of the modern economy. 2013. No. 3. pp. 234-245.

4.         Tietenberg T., Lewis L. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. – 12th ed. – Routledge, 2023. DOI: 10.4324/9781003213734.

5.         Costanza R., de Groot R., Sutton P., van der Ploeg S., Anderson S.J., Kubiszewski I., Farber S., Turner R.K. Changes in the global value of ecosystem services // Global Environmental Change. 2014. Vol. 26. P. 152-158. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2014.04.002

6.         Chernykh V.V., Chernykh L.V., Shutov V.A. Rent-based approach to forest resources assessment as a basis for improving the efficiency of the forest complex. Lesnoy Vestnik. 2023. Vol. 27, No. 5. pp. 5-24.  DOI: 10.18698/2542-1468-2023-5-5-24.

7.         Ollikainen M. Forest Management, Public Goods, and Optimal Policies // Annual Review of Resource Economics. 2016. Vol. 8. P. 207-226. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-resource-100815-095450.

8.         Prokofieva I. Payments for Ecosystem Services—the Case of Forests, vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 130-42, from https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs40725-016-0037-9.pdf , April 26, 2016. DOI: 10.1007/S40725-016-0037-

9.         9 9. Tretyakov A.G. Forest rent and economic accessibility of forest resources: methodological aspects // Lesnoy Vestnik.  2015. Vol. 19, No. 2. pp. 153-160.

10.     Boscolo M., Vincent J.R. Area Fees and Logging in Tropical Timber Concessions, Environment and Development Economics, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 505–20, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/environment-and-development economics/article/area-fees-and-logging-in-tropical-timber-concessions/28C594F84E231E9C17C83915DBF4B66D, August 1, 2007. DOI: 10.1017/S1355770X0700366X.

11.     Karsenty A. The economics of payments for environmental services in tropical forests: a review // International Journal of the Commons. 2018. Vol. 12, № 1. P. 263–288. DOI: 10.18352/ijc.822.

12.     Postali F.A.S. Royalties for oil and gas extraction in Brazil: a rent-sharing approach // Resources Policy. 2009. Vol. 34, No. 3. P. 115-123. DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2008.12.002.

13.     Bespalova O.V. Improvement of the mechanism of withdrawal of natural rent in the forestry sector of the Russian economy // The economy of the region. 2019. Vol. 15, No. 2. pp. 456-468. DOI: 10.17059/2019-2-12.

14.     Wunder S., Brouwer R., Engel S., Ezzine De Blas D., Muradian R., Pascual U., Pinto R. From principles to practice in paying for nature’s services // Nature Sustainability. 2018. Vol. 1. No. 3. pp. 145-150. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0036-x.

15.     Alix-Garcia J., Wolff H. Payment for Ecosystem Services from Forests, Annual Review of Resource Economics, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 361–80, from https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/99019/1/dp8179.pdf, October 6, 2014. DOI: 10.1146/ANNUREV-RESOURCE-100913-012524.

16.     Schuyt K. Economic consequences of wetland degradation for local communities in Africa // Ecological Economics. 2005. Vol. 53, № 2. P. 177–190. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.10.014.

17.     Prokofieva I., O'Farrell P., Blignaut J. et al. Payments for ecosystem services in South Africa: lessons from the Working for Water programme // Ecosystem Services. 2020. Vol. 45.  101139. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101139.

18.     Veklych A. Economic valuation of forest ecosystem services in Ukraine: methodological approaches // Environmental Economics. 2021. Vol. 12, № 1. P. 45–56. DOI: 10.21511/ee.12(1).2021.05.

19.     Bishop R.C., Champ P.A., Mullarkey D.J. Contingent valuation // Handbook of Environmental Economics. 2003.Vol. 2. P. 621–658. DOI: 10.1016/S1574-0099(03)02014-5.

20.     Kant S. Property rights, transaction costs and institutional change: conceptual framework and literature review // Progress in Development Studies. 2005. Vol. 5, № 1. P. 43–63. DOI: 10.1191/1464993405ps103oa.

21.     Da-Rocha J.-M., Gutiérrez M.-J., Trelles R. Payments for Environmental Services: Coasian Transactions or Something Else? [Electronic resource] // Munich Personal RePEc Archive. 2016. MPRA Paper No. 72061. Access mode: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/72061 / (Date of reference: 04/08/2026).

22.     Forest Code of the Russian Federation dated 12/04/2006 No. 200-FZ (as amended on 12/25/2023 [Electronic resource]. Access mode: http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_64299 / (Date of access: 04/08/2026).

23.     Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 05/22/2007 No. 310 "On the rates of payment per unit volume of forest Resources, the rates of payment per unit area of a Federally Owned Forest Plot, and the Procedure for Calculating fees" (as amended on 12/28/2024) [Electronic resource]. Access mode: http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_68443 / (Date of access: 04/08/2026).

24.     Morkovina S.S. The economic model of intensive forestry as the basis for balancing the interests of forestry business, the state, and society. // Proceedings of the St. Petersburg Scientific Research Institute of Forestry. 2016. No. 3. pp. 64-76.