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"The tree which moves some to tears
of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way."
~ William Blake
Ancient Forests
Ancient forests, otherwise known as old growth forests, are
an area of forest that has attained great age and exhibits unique biological
features. Old growth forests are usually 180 years or older and have have high
canopies, multiple layers and numerous species. Ancient forests a re
distinguished by the immense size of the trees, fallen logs, stumps, decaying
wood and woody debris.¹
This type of forest is home to unique species that thrive on the ecosystems
developed of hundreds of years. The Taiga, which lies in the
Northern Hemisphere of Russia is one of the world’s oldest and largest
spans of old growth forests. Because of the acreage and enormity of the trees
within the forests, the Taiga is appealing to the growing industrialized
East.
"Some progress has
been made on the economic front, [but] recent years have seen a recentralization
of power under Vladimir Putin" rendering
Russia's economy unstable. Although industry and services compile the majority
of national income, "oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more
than 80% of exports." ²
The harvesting and export of timber continues to increase to meet global demands
as developing nations embrace industrialization. Russia
has made little progress in enforcing law, thus supporting corruption, loose
enforcement of regulations and subjects natural resources to exploitation.
Although recently increased attention has been given to the
protection of this forest, large multinationals continue logging. In some cases,
illegal logging has been shown to be less detrimental than legal logging. In
these cases illegal logging is done in such a way so that they cannot be caught,
therefore they do not clear cut trees in as great a quantity as would an entity
that is permitted to harvest. By
exploiting resources, tree harvesters and lumber companies significantly alter
the landscape and destroy crucial habitat for both plant and animal species.
While there are programs that promote secondary forests through tree planting,
in Russia these programs are not well-monitored. Additionally, secondary forests
are not as diverse and they cannot duplicate the ecosystems of ancient
forests.
Some believe that secondary forests are an immediate remedy to clear cutting
trees, but they take hundreds of years to develop in the same manner as the
original landscape had prior to harvesting. Industries that enter the Taiga also
disrupt the animal life within the forest threatening endangered species and
taking their habitat. Sustainable development is crucial component to harvesting
a natural resource. According to the 1987 Bruntland Report through the World
Commission on Environment and Development "Sustainable development
is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs."³
In relation to
forests, this means being able to feed timber industries while keeping the
future in mind and foreseeing that the same resources will be available in the
future. Sustainable development in forestry is needed throughout Russia and can be
achieved through non-governmental organizations and strict enforcement by the
government. Halting forest exports completely is out of the question because of
ever-growing demand, but reducing the rates at which forests are destroyed is
crucial to the environment of Russia, its surrounding countries and the rest of
the world.
http://www.forest.ru/rus/publications/north/images/i_20.jpg
¹
²"Russia."
CIA World Factbook. 29 Mar. 2006. Central Intelligence Agency. 3 Apr.
2006 <http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rs.html>.
³"1987:
Bruntland Report." ARE. 7 Dec. 2004. Federal Office for Spatial Development.
3 Apr. 2006 <http://www.are.admin.ch/are/en/nachhaltig/international_uno/unterseite02330/>.
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