Poor loggers in a rich country: workers’ socio-economic situation analysis in the logging industry using the Irkutsk region example

The objective of the study is a systematic analysis of the socioeconomic status of the working-age population of forest settlements in the Irkutsk Region, with a particular emphasis on motivation for voluntary participation in military operations. This paper examines the causes of declining timber harvesting volumes from the perspectives of labor policy, social justice, and economic geography within the context of the current state of the logging industry (hereinafter, LZP) in Russia, using the Irkutsk Region as an example. Particular attention is paid to the voluntary participation of LZP workers in special military operations (hereinafter, SMO) and the contradiction between the country's wealth and the poverty of LZP workers. The consequences of systemic injustice in resource distribution, inadequate protection of labor rights, and the lack of long-term social policy for the forestry sector and society as a whole are analyzed. It appears that the current state of the forest shelterbelt economic system requires a comprehensive management approach and the development of long-term sustainable development strategies, taking into account the impact of forest shelterbelts. The need for technological modernization of the logging industry is emphasized as a key factor in increasing its efficiency and sustainability. The study's results can be used in developing regional forest policy and will allow for a comprehensive assessment of current processes in forest shelterbelts.