Copyright 2001 The Moscow Times
October 11, 2001
By Kevin O'Flynn, Staff Writer

Researchers released the first-ever map of Russia's northern forests Wednesday, warning that loggers are threatening Europe's last great wilderness.

A five-year study using images from both Russian and American satellites as well as field trips to the areas has found that only 14 percent of the actual northern forests remain untouched by man, according to the map and accompanying report by the World Resources Institute's Global Forest Watch and Greenpeace Russia.

Much of that virgin forest is in danger, the report said.

"The significance of this work goes beyond Russian forestry," Alexander Isayev, a former forestry minister, said in a statement. "These are the last big forest wilderness areas in Europe and an important part of our common European heritage. We need to keep them wild and protected by law."

"The Last Intact Forest Landscapes of Northern European Russia," released Wednesday in Moscow and Washington, focuses on those wilderness forests, or forests that exist in large, undisturbed areas.

The report defines these areas as 50,000 hectares and larger and says there are only 32 million hectares of intact forests left in Russia. Only such large areas are able to serve as a habitat to large populations of animals and at the same time weather natural processes such as storms and fires.

"Intact forests are particularly important as they group together a mosaic of ecosystems," said Lars Laestadius, the editor of the English version of the report. "A pack of wolves can roam and never have to cross a road."

The danger comes from human incursions such as logging, logging roads and power lines. A lack of protection from government organizations, the report says, is exacerbating the situation.

The report argues that the forests need to be preserved and that simple measures will do the trick. Because the forests are in remote northern regions such as Arkhangelsk, Komi and Karelia, they are far enough away to deter many loggers.

Greenpeace is running a campaign to persuade companies not to use the wood from such wilderness forests. Swedish furniture giant IKEA and the Svetogorsk Paper Factory are among the companies that have agreed to boycott timber from the forests.

A report on forests throughout Russia will be released later this year, followed by reports on forests in Canada, the United States and Brazil. Error: Unable to read footer file.