The main purpose of the monograph is to show with concrete examples how the best representatives of forestry in pre-revolutionary Russia fought to save the country's forest wealth, sought to accelerate the process of plundering and destroying the most valuable forests. The book describes in detail and intelligibly the emergence, development and activities of forest societies. It is told what goals and objectives these communities set for themselves, how forestry was conducted. The monograph is designed for a wide range of readers interested in the issue of Russian forest, in particular, foresters, foresters and students of forestry and forestry universities and technical schools, it is also of interest to historians.