The Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics were the first among the Russian regions to work out integrated wildfire fighting plans for 2023 and have them coordinated with the Federal Agency for Forestry (Rosleskhoz), an official said.   “The total forest protection area reaches 129,600 hectares in the DPR and 326,200 hectares in the LPR,” the Forestry Department for the Southern Federal District said citing Rosleskhoz Head Ivan Sovetnikov. “Integrated plans commit forces and hardware to fight wildfires.”   The documents were drawn by the LPR and DPR Forestry Departments with the assistance of Southern Federal District specialists and Aerial Forest Protection, an organization subordinate to Rosleskhoz.   The LPR’s wildfire protection force numbers 448 people with a 225-strong backup group and 264 pieces of equipment.   “The new regions are currently going through the transitional period. The Forestry Department for the Southern Federal District continues to coordinate the work, share its experience and hold meetings with forestry specialists from the new regions. The LPR and DPR forestries have set up operations control centers which are responsible for wildfire protection. Preparations are underway to implement forest planting plans the next season, said Southern Federal District Forestry Department Head Pyotr Kostenich.   The integrated plans have been forwarded to the LPR and DPR senior officials for approval.*i*ie