MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Federal Agency for Forestry and the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture signed an agreement on forest protection and reforestation, the Russian Natural Resources Ministry said Friday.

The sides agreed to protect forests, replant forestlands, fight against illegal tree felling, and share information on forest management and legislation, voluntary certification, and research work.

The Russian Forestry Agency and the U.S. Forest Service will set up a task force to implement the agreement and outline Russian-U.S. joint forestry projects for 2006-2007.