Exploring the Core of the Verkhne-Vashka Intact Forest Massif

An international expedition to the central part of the Verkhne-Vashka Intact Forest Massif – some of the remaining vast intact landscape still preserved in the middle subzone of the European taiga, was arranged by the Silver Taiga Foundation from 6 to 17 June 2016. The expedition aimed at scientific justification of organizing a Specially Protected Natural Area (SPNA) in the basin of the Osa, the Vashka river tributary (see the map below).

The beginning of the expedition was marked by a sad event. On June 9, Artyom Stolpovsky got a relapsing serious chronic disease he had been suffering from for the previous 4 years, as he was performing a radial field trip. It took the participants of the expedition tough 36 hours to carry Artyom out of the taiga on a stretcher, then he was taken to the nearest hospital in Yarensk (Arkhangelsk region). In the hospital Artyom awoke, saw his parents and bid them farewell, but doctors still couldn’t save him. Artyom passed away on June 13. The members of the expedition only learnt about his death as they returned from the taiga on June 17.   Among members of the expedition were Yury Pautov, Nikolay Shuktomov, Sergey Davydov from Silver Taiga Foundation and external experts – lichenologist Natalya Semenova and zoologist Andrey Korolev (Institute of Biology of the Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Syktyvkar), phytosociologist Asiya Zagidullina (Saint-Petersburg University), phytosociologist and GIS expert Dmitry Koltsov (NGO Transparent World, Moscow), landscape scientist Artyom Stolpovsky (Arkhangelsk), mycologist (Aphyllophorales) Olli Manninen and lichenologist Hanna Jauhiainen (Finland).

Notwithstanding the extraordinary situation, the participants of the expedition managed to explore the major part of the area planned to be converted to the SPNA in the basin of the Osa and its main tributaries – the Mytka, Ulys-Vozh, Sher-Vozh, and the watershed area of the massif serving as a streamhed for the Uftyuga river flowing into the Vychegda and the Ilesha river, the Pinega’s tributary.

Over 250 km of routes were covered by the experts for the ten days of the expedition, they explored main landscapes and ecosystems of the remote and poorly studied area, collected rare and endangered species of plants, fungi, lichens, prepared dozens of geobotanical and forestry descriptions, collected samples for the genetic evaluation of the most southern European population of the forest reindeer inhabiting the intact forest landscape.

The key environmental value of the planned SPNA is that it will unite the clusters of Uftyuga-Ilesha landskape reserve already established in Arkhangelsk region in one extensive massif and thus will allow to preserve the watershed of the Osa, Uftyuga and Ilesha, tributaries of big norther rivers – the Vashka, Vychegda and Pinega.

Another important contribution is preserving the habitat of rare and endangered species of plants and animals from the Red Books of the Komi Republic, the neighboring Arkhangelsk region and the Russian Federation. As the expedition experts preliminarily conclude, after the collected samples and herbaria are reviewed, it is expected that regional and possibly federal lists of red book species will be extended.

At the moment, the expedition participants are analyzing the data obtained, based on them they will prepare justification for the new regional SPNA, with the name suggested – the Osa Landscape Reserve of the Komi Republic.

Please find below the short interviews with our Finnish participants where they tell about themselves and share impressions of the expedition. 

– What is your key focus?Olli Manninen, forest ecologist, graduated from the Helsinki University, used to work in a number of environmental NGOs in Finland, at the moment a freelancer dealing with biodiversity stock count in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia by order of a number of organizations.

– I specialize in Aphyllophorales growing mainly on dead decomposing wood. In addition, I know well various species of lichens and plant indicating intact taiga forest in Europe.

– What organizations require such expertise most of all?

– Scandinavia had quite a lot of governmental and public organizations dealing with biodiversity stock count in national parks and other SPNAs. However, I prefer working in a place where a new protected area is just planned to be founded rather than where there is an established SPNA. Last year, I worked a lot in Norway and Sweden. This year – in Russia and Finland.

– How much time do you normally spend in the field, in trips?

– It depends significantly on the country and the customer, but in average it’s 70 to 100 days per year.

– Why have you decided to take part in this expedition?

– There are a number of reasons. Firstly, I have never been to Komi. Secondly, I believe it is important to help create new protected areas. Thirdly, I wanted to discover new landscapes and possibly to find new species of fungi and lichens.  Fourthly, I was eager to cooperate with Russian experts handling similar issues.

– What parts of Russia have you already seen?

– I used to work as an expert in Karelia, Leningrad and Arkhangelsk regions. As a tourist, I have visited Saint-Petersburg and Bashkortostan.

– What was the biggest challenge in this expedition?

– A very “difficult” forest. It is hard to walk because of the plentiful dead wood, windfall and windbroken timber. Another problem is mosquitoes. If you compare that to Scandinavia, we use cars more frequently there, as even the most remote areas are accessible by transport. Here, you have to walk a lot and constantly live in the forest with mosquitoes.

– What are the positive moments of the expedition you have noticed?

– It is a very positive expedition for me in general, except for the case with Artyom Stolpovsky. I like the wild intact forest, collecting new species, extreme tourism – all that was abundant in the expedition!

– Are you planning to visit Komi again? Will you recommend such trips to your friends or colleagues?

– Of course, I will. My friends and colleagues mostly visit already existing national parks and reserves, but here everything is much more interesting and exciting. Many Scandinavian experts would love to volunteer in such places!

– Thank you for the interview!

– Why have you chosen this profession?Hanna Jauhiainen, student of the Helsinki University with Biology and Environmental Protection as a major, planning to graduate and get a master’s degree next year.

– I love the nature and see people disturbing and destroying it, often unintentionally, so I think people have to be trained to preserve the nature.

– What is the ratio of practical versus theoretical classes in your specialty in the university?

– Approximately 70% of lectures and 30% of field studies, in addition there is lots of independent work.

– Is it difficult to study at your major?

– Not at all for me! But it will be difficult to find a job after the university. To be honest, I may also become a biology teacher, but I’d like to become an ecologist.

– Why have you decided to take part in our expedition?

– First of all, I was free at the beginning of June, besides I have never been to Komi. Moreover, I find it personally very important to help protect the nature, in this case – help create a new specially protected natural area.

– Have you been anywhere else in Russia?

– In 2013 I spent 6 months in Petrozavodsk as part of the university student exchange program, then I was a volunteer in the SPOK environmental organization in Karelia, visited Saint-Petersburg and Bashkiria as a tourist.

– What was your biggest challenge in our expedition?

– Mosquitoes!!! And unfortunately, there was too little time to see all the interesting places!

– What did you like in the expedition?

– Everything – friendly environment, nice partners, new places, wild intact forest. I like being in the forest. What’s more, I found a rare species of Pycnoporellus alboluteus at the Osa river, which makes me very proud!

– Do you have any other hobbies?

– I do, I like rock-climbing and circus acrobatics.

– Hanna, you and Olli are vegans, i.e. you do not eat any animal food. Did you face any difficulties with that in the expedition?

– No, no problems at all. We had some special protein supplements and sauces, so we did not experience any hardships with regard to food.

– Are there many vegans among your friends and in Scandinavia in general?

– Almost half of our friends are vegans or vegetarians, and in Finland, I think, vegetarians account for 7-8 percent.

– Would you like to go for another expedition with Silver Taiga?

– With pleasure, if you invite me!

720

0 0