Sustainability

The importance of a forest

After heavily exploiting its own natural resources for years, Russia is beginning to understand the ecological importance of its own forests. The about-turn in the management of this heritage over the last decade has now led to many changes: there are now over 140 state natural reserves, whose reproduction plans have in some instances ensured the survival of some animal species, including the European bison. Scientifically, study missions have been organised; four to Siberia alone (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000), as part of EU-funded research plans. The areas involved in this plan are located approximately 600 km north of Krasnoyars, near the village of Zotino (61°N; 89°E), standing on the banks of the river Jenissey, 160 m above the sea level. The study of the ecology of these forests has involved the installation of stations for monitoring gas exchanges between carbon dioxide and steam as well as studying the energy balance of the different types of forests; the development of transepts for studying the composition and structure of the forest, along with analyses of the soil for reconstructing the different stages of after-fire secondary successions.