In current business environment we need to search new tools of state industrial policy. World and domestic experience, as well as theoretical studies confirm that the use of cluster approach to promoting the development of integrated economic systems contributes to improving the competitiveness of industries, regions and country as a whole. The aim of this study is to analyze the conceptual foundations of cluster creation in the forest sector of economy of Sverdlovsk region taking into account of the essential features of economic and technological reality, and the current state of the state of cluster policy. The analysis of the legal framework helped to identify the forms of state support for cluster formations and their requirements and their specialized institutions to obtain official status. The study identified six currently existing regional forestry clusters. Formed clusters will contribute to the development of the industry, but their number is insufficient to improve the competitiveness and innovative development of forest sector economy as a whole. Timber industry complex of Sverdlovsk region has significant potential to increase its contribution to economic development of the region. Development opportunities of the forestry sector are explained by the presence of established infrastructure, logging and timber processing, and significant resource base of the industry. There are enterprises of forestry, pulp and paper, wood processing, wood chemical industry in the region. Sverdlovsk region has a number of problems that would be mitigated and partially solved through the establishment of timber industry cluster. In this work, the structure of the regional wood industry cluster is suggested, the assumptions and risks of its creation are analyzed, the composition of the participants of the "core" of the cluster is substantiated. The most appropriate mechanisms of state support and quantitative performance indicators of the cluster are offered to ensure the efficient operation and further development of the cluster.

Currently in Russia there is a need to create a strategic forest planning system : to meet the requirements of the Federal Law № 172-FZ "On the strategic planning in the Russian Federation", to ensure the achievement of specific objectives stated by the Russian government in the "Principles of State Policy in the field of , protection and reproduction of forests in the Russian Federation till 2030 ", based on the new forest law, which takes into account the advanced domestic and foreign experience of legal and normative support of forest relations. According to the authors, the main task of strategic forest planning at the federal level should be the establishment of sectoral and regional priorities. In addition, the distribution of forest resources on the territory of the country requires, along with an assessment of sectoral priorities, justification of the conditions for the effective allocation of industries to economic regions and subjects of the Russian Federation. At the level of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the forest plan in the format of regional medium-term program for strategic development of the forest sector should be an effective tool that allows not only to achieve the goals and objectives of state policy in the sphere of forest use, reproduction, protection and protection, but also to positively influence the economy of the region and the country generally. It is necessary to form regional strategic planning document on a block (modular) basis in the same way as all plans for social and economic development of the industry at the federal and regional levels are formed. Each activity in it must be targeted, resource-efficient, and also be a subject of external monitoring and control.