The Gassinsky Model Forest Project
3/26/96
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/** taiga.news: 277.0 **/
** Topic: The Gassinsky model forrst project **
** Written 1:39 PM Feb 21, 1996 by nn:rogols in cdp:taiga.news **
Gassinsky - a model forest project in the Russian Far East
By Andrei Laletin
/From Taiga News no 16/
The Gassinsky Model forest is situated in the Khabarovsk region in the
Russian Far East. The natural borders of the model forest are the
Sikhote-Alin mountain range and the left bank of the Amur river. The
total territory of the model forest is 384,484 ha.
If the very good objectives of the project can be implemented, the
project may be important for the development of sustainable forestry in
the Russian Far East. The project is lead and sponsored by the Canadian
Government (Departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade), the
Canadian Forest Service, the Federal Forest Service of Russia, the
regional administration of Khabarovsk and the regional Forest Service.
There are about 20 partners participating in the project. The project
started in November 1994 and is planned to be completed in April, 1997.
Out of the total area of the model forest, 288,661 hectares are
industrial forests, while 94,734 hectares (25 %) are protected. The main
tree species are spruce (Picea ajanensis) and fir (Abies nephrolepis)
together accounting for 49 % of the growing stock. Other significant
tree species are the Korean cedar pine (Pinus koreaensis) (12 %), two
species of birch (Betula mandshurica and B. costata) (17 %) and larch
(Larix dahurica) (10 %).
There are well over one thousand plant species in the model forest area.
Many of them have useful applications as edible and medicinal herbs. As
concerns rare and endangered plants 44 species have been registered. Of
these, 27 are listed in the Red Data Book of Russia. The fauna is also
very diverse, including more than 20 species of mammals (for example,
sable, mink, squirrel, moose, fox and bear) and more than 50 bird
species.
The Gassinsky model forest project was created on the basis of the
concept of sustainable development, partnership and biodiversity
protection for the interest of the local population, especially the
nanaitsy, the indigenous people of the area.
The following aims are considered as the main ones:
definition of model forest,
protection and restoration of biodiversity,
management diversification for achieving sustainable development,
implementing more rational ways of forest resources utilisation,
taking into consideration indigenous people interests,
public participation in decision making process,
establishment of a modern system of complex management of natural
resources for achieving sustainable development,
utilisation of scientific achievements,
defining the most rational ways of timber industry development,
transfer of knowledge and experience achieved during the model forest
project, for training and environmental education in other
territories.
During the first year of the project implementation the main focus was
information and educational activities. The project was introduced for
the Nanaisky district community and was advertised there. The
Partnership Council and the Board of Directors of the project were
created, appointing representatives of government, industry, science,
and indigenous peoples. A project office was set up and put into
operation and a schedule for future work was prepared. Some field data
were gathered during expeditions made by researchers from the Institute
of Water and Ecological Problems of Far Eastern Branch of Russian
Academy of Sciences and this Forestry Institute of Russian Federal
Forest Service.
This was of course only the beginning of the field work phase of the
project. The main work is to be made during the next two years.
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Andrei Laletin is a forest researcher and a leader of Friends of the
Siberian Forest, a NGO based in Krasnoyarsk.