Taiga, the largest biome in Northern Eurasia, accounts for a quarter of the world's
pristine forests. Although vast, it is floristically poor and its fauna also comprises few
species. The European and West Siberian taiga has a milder climate, accommodates a larger
number of species, and has been more affected by development, in particular by the
production of timber and oil. Although the annual industrial production of timber declined
to just over 100 million m3 in 1996, which represents a threefold reduction in
comparson with the late 1980s, many areas experience problems with respect to illegal
cutting of forests, fragmentation of mature stands, and unacceptable forest-harvesting
practices. East of the Yenisey, much of the taiga is represented by monotonous larch
stands or thickets of Siberian pine, the two species that are adapted to the extremely low
temperatures, high aridity, and ubiquitous permafrost. Because of the severity of the
environment and the remoteness of the area, these forests remain virtually untouched by
humans. The major problem associated with this area is the organization of fire
management. Although taiga does not possess a unique biological diversity, it is important
for the maintenance of environmental balance through its role in the global carbon cycle.
With the decline of tropical forests, the role of the Russian boreal forest, which covers
a larger territory than forests of North America and Scandinavia combined, is becoming
more prominent (Gorshkov, 1989; Dixon et. al., 1994; Isaev et. al., 1995). The issues of
forest management aimed at conservation and sequestration of carbon are discussed in
detail below.
