On 4th – 17th March 2013 the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Moscow jointly with the city police carried out the first stage of “Primrose-2013” plan.

The operation is held annually. Its goal is to find out and prevent the cases of illegal picking, smuggling and selling of rare and disappearing plants registered in the Red Book of Russia and the Red Book of Moscow. During the operation markets, railway stations and other objects were inspected. The violators are subjected to administrative prosecution.

The second stage of the operation will take place on 13th – 26th May. According to the specialists of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Moscow in the recent years there has been a decrease of illegal activity of selling rare plants mentioned in the Red Book.