This article examines the development of regulatory system in the sphere of the protection of privately owned forests. The problem of preservation of privately owned forests became particularly relevant after the decree of 1782 issued by Catherine II, entitling the owners with the right of unlimited use of forests within their land holdings. The government hoped that landlords would make every effort to responsibly develop forestry in their possession. Since the state forest service was undeveloped and it was not possible to transfer all the forests under the supervision of forest officials, there was no other way to protect private forests from unauthorized use. However, the application of this decree showed that ruthless deforestation for the purpose of profit became for private owners a predominant form of forest management. To prevent the final destruction of private forests in the second half of the nineteenth century several legal regulations were adopted, with the “On Saving Forests” Regulation of 1888 being the most important.