 The Forests of Russia comprise almost one fourth
of the worlds forest cover, making Russian forests a unique natural
phenomenon both nationally and globally. They serve as extremely
important refuges for terrestrial biodiversity, are a central component
of stability of the biosphere at the continental scale and a source
of numerous ecosystem services essential for human well-being.
The country’s forests and woodlands play a significant role in
global biogeochemical cycles, particularly in the global carbon cycle
and consequently, in accelerating or decelerating global climate change.
Russian forests contain 41 billion tons of carbon in terrestrial vegetation
(including 33 billion tons of live biomass) and about 120 billion tons
of organic carbon in the top (1m) soil layer. Forests contribute about
half of the terrestrial Net Primary Production and over three-fourths
of the Net Biome Production of the country’s vegetation. Forest
management is a powerful tool for mitigation of the negative consequences
of climate change.
Forests play an extremely important role in environmental protection.
In the temperate and borealzones, the forests are a major stabilization
component of natural landscapes. Forests are a vitally important tool
for protection of soils against erosion and protection and regulation
of water resources – practically all accessible freshwater comes
from forested catchments. Recreation services of forests, as well as
spiritual and cultural ones, are also of great importance.
The services obtained from Russian forests have substantial economic
value. Russian forests contain more than 50% of the
worlds resources of valuable coniferous wood. The Annual Allowable Cut
is estimated to be over 500 million m3 of commercial wood annually. Additionally,
numerous non-wood forest products play a significant role in the economic
life of many millions of people. The combined economic value of “non-market” (social
and ecological) forest services may exceed the recorded market value
of timber.
The enormous scale of Russian forests generates large problems. Already,
climatic changes (ie. increased instability of seasonal weather), dramatically
increase the extent and severity of natural disturbances, in particular,
forest fires. The system of forest protection requires urgent improvements.
Expected climatic changes in the 21st century raise the question of the
future of Russia's boreal forests.
The current level of governance of Russian forests requires principal
improvements. Different sources estimate illegal harvesting at over 25-30%
of figures officially reported. Economic crises of the last 15 years
dramatically decreased the standard of life and the social security of
many hundreds of taiga settlements. Development and implementation of
a national forest policy, which would correspond to present realities,
is necessary.
The Russian forest sector faces large and dramatic challenges. Transition
to sustainable forest management (SFM) is urgent and vitally important,
but has not yet been implemented to the point where it is appreciably
mitigating the negative forces and threats facing Russian forests and
the Russian forest sector. Implementing SFM, however, requires overcoming
many economic, political, social, legislative, and institutional hurdles
that drive the bad governance and use of the country’s forests. The
current practice of Russian forest management does not take into account
problems stemming from global change. The new imperative of the
world’s forestry is to develop policies to manage the capacity
of forests to cope with, adapt to, and shape changes. Responding
to this imperative requires new information and new knowledge. Knowledge
of the current condition of forests, implementation of effective methods
of forest management and experiences and lessons derived from the recent
history of interactions between humans and forests - are all important
prerequisites for transition of the Russian forest sector to SFM.
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