Aleksandr Lukashenko said: «People should live in nature reserves in kind of small islands. Creating these small islands in places where people live like Domzheritsy is the idea.»

The president gave instructions to engage in forestry operations and agriculture in a wise manner in addition to nature conservation efforts in such places in order to keep the territories in good order.

«If you live on the land, you need to engage in agriculture. You need a household plot,» the head of state noted.

The same applies to individual plots where commercial operations can be developed. «These small bits should not be surrendered to nature since they are cleansed of trees and shrubs. They should produce results. As a timber mill in some places. As an agricultural operation. I am ready to help with a bit of money in order to develop it,» the head of state said.

«I am not saying for what purpose you will work on the land. We have plenty of milk and meat. If you use it for hunting, for fishing, be my guest, it is up to you,» the president added.

Speaking about the development and beautification of Domzheritsy, the head of state spoke in positive terms about what he had seen: «It is a good village. I hope our agrotowns will be like that. Well done for making such a village. Apart from that, you bring reinforced concrete and bricks here. Everything should be made out of wood,» the president said as he evaluated the beautification efforts.

The head of state was informed that at present Domzheritsy is home to 372 people. There are no problems with employment. All the necessary social infrastructure has been preserved and modernized, including a kindergarten and a school. The local boiler house burns local fuels.

2025 marks 100 years since the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve was founded. Large-scale reconstruction and modernization of the central farmstead in the village of Domzheritsy have been accomplished ahead of this date. Housing construction is in progress. The manufacturing infrastructure has been renovated: a timber processing workshop has been set up.

«It is right. It is the future. I will encourage people to come here and learn how agrotowns should be developed,» Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

The president remarked that all of it lies within the scope of the overall important task of preserving the countryside in Belarus and developing it: «It is an example of what the countryside we want to preserve should be.»

«Closer to nature! And these reserved areas should be used for the sake of that. I would like our people to benefit from it somehow,» the head of state said.

At the same time the president made it clear that in no way does he call for «fouling up Belarus». On the contrary, a wise approach to nature management is the idea. For instance, large volumes of valuable raw materials should not be simply left to rot in the woods.

«Certainly, keep it in order. We cannot ruin these sacred places,» the Belarusian leader said.

Photo: BelTA