The activity of zemstvo institutions of Altai and Tomsk Provinces on protection of forests (1917-1919)
The necessity of establishing zemstvo institutions in the Siberian region was announced in the second half of the nineteenth century. The implementation of this idea became possible as a result of the revolutionary events and the dissolution of monarchy. In June 1917, Provisional Regulations on Zemstvo Institutions in Archangelsk Province and in Siberia appeared, according to which the zemstvo administrative and executive bodies were introduced at the level of province (oblast) - uezd - volost. Commissioners were entitled to supervise the legality of actions of the zemstvo agencies. The local government system was subject to a significant reform. Before the elections to the zemstvo institutions, their functions in Tomsk Province were vested in executive bodies of uezd (district) and provincial people's assemblies. Since the establishment of zemstvo in Siberia coincided with the separation of Altai Province as an independent territorial and administrative unit, the functions of the zemstvo authorities were vested in the Altai Provincial Executive Committee which was formed in July 1917. In late 1917 and early 1918, the zemstvo institutions of Altai and Tomsk Provinces were formed. In October 1917, the Bolshevik coup considerably exacerbated the political situation, and the activities of the local governments had to be adjusted. The zemstvo condemned the usurpation of power by the Bolsheviks, and further entered into confrontation with the leaders of the local councils. In the early spring of 1918, the activity of the zemstvos was curtailed, and recovered only by the summer of 1918 as a result of the next change of power in Siberia. The zemstvos operated until December 1919, i.e. until the final establishment of the Soviet rule in Western Siberia. The zemstvos were bound to solve more than twenty different administrative and economic issues, including measures to prevent and fight forest fires. The zemstvo assemblies were supposed to set remuneration for fighting forest fires. The provincial and district zemstvo assemblies and councils were entitled to issue mandatory regulations on precautionary measures against forest fires, on provision of villages with fire-fighting equipment, as well as regulations on the participation of local residents in fighting fires. The breach of regulations was punished by a fine in the amount of 50 rubles. The success of the new institutions depended on many factors, including funding, organizational arrangements and the nature of the relationship with the authorities. The main problem of the zemstvo institutions in Siberia was the short time of their activities.