Pristine Forests of Komi and Archangelsk regions: in Search of a Common Solution

An ecological evaluation of a large pristine forest area (LPFA) located on the border of Archangelsk and Komi regions was made on April 9-10, 2009 on the basis of WWF-Russia in Archangelsk.

The meeting was initiated by Silver Taiga Foundation under High Conservation Value Forests Project. The goal of the project is to find and strengthen the compromise solutions with regard to conservation and sustainable use of pristine forests in Komi and to disseminate the experience to Archangelsk region.

LPFA are well known for their high ecological value. A pristine forest massif is an originally preserved landscape and a habitual area of all taiga species including rare and protected ones. On the other hand LPFA has an economic value and is a base of logging development in Udora region of Komi and adjacent area of Archangelsk region. The ecological evaluation result is the determination of LPFA’s kernel. It represents a compact central part of the massif composed of catchment basins which are of high ecological value. This is the base of negotiations about the search of a compromise solution taking into account the proposals of all interested parties.

During the meeting an ecological evaluation of Karpogorsk and Verkhnevashkinsk massifs located in Archangelsk region was made. Moreover the boundaries of the kernels were proposed. The results of this meeting were combined together with the data of 2005 of Udora region and finally maps for the adjacent massifs were done.

By May 2009 such work will be done for Pyssa massif.

The next step is to make the negotiations more active. The main participants of these negotiations will be the representatives of logging companies and the authority.