Russia hosts more than one-fifth of the world’s timber stock and the largest share of primary boreal forests, which play a vital role in carbon sequestration, stabilizing climate and regulating water balance on our planet. Primary taiga forests still may be found just 250 km away of Moscow in Tver region.
Photo: A. Zaytsev
IUCN cooperates with forest-dependent communities in parts of Russia to help them sustainably use non-timber forest resources to create business opportunities and support their economies in a manner that respects local traditions and the environment. The activities carried out by IUCN have already achieved considerable results including:
- visible socio-economic improvement within rural communities in two macro-regions (Northwestern Russia and the Russian Far East);
- the creation of dozens of jobs for locals through ecotourism projects; and
- the facilitation of dialogue and collaboration between the public and private sectors.
In addition, IUCN maintains an online library of best practices to help local communities find cost-effective and sustainable techniques for forest resource use.
Forest Heroes: Sergey Slastnikov, Russia
Successes
Protected Areas and Local Communities: A Strong Bond
“The involvement of local communities is a key factor in efficient forest resource management and increased landscape functionality. The successful partnership formed with the communities in Bezhanitsky District provides a solid basis for FLR [Forest Landscape Restoration]. This approach is a particularly effective way of addressing local needs and contributing towards the achievement of the goals set by the Bonn Challenge. The administrations of the Polistovsky Nature Reserve and of other reserves expressed a keen interest in exploring the possibility of implementing FLR in the region.” Andrey Zaytsev, ENPI-FLEG II Country Program Coordinator for IUCN in Russia
Transboundary Research Cooperation for Better Understanding Russian Mushroom Diversity
Local and international interests in the forest sector are often interconnected. This FLEG initiative was originally planned to teach forest-dependent communities how to make profit from non-timber resources, but it triggered an international scientific project of great importance.
“This unexpected scientific collaboration was a very pleasant surprise for me. The initial objective of FLEG’s involvement in the region was to develop and implement sustainable forest use models. The presence of such a bright professional as Anna Baklan brought about an activity that will certainly benefit our reserve. The establishment of this international cooperation with Estonia, one of our European neighbours, will definitely contribute to shedding light on the biodiversity of the entire ecoregion.” Mikhail Yablokov, Director of Polistovsky Nature Reserve
Local businesses from Belarus and Russia exchange ideas for developing successful ecotourism opportunities in forest communities.
“The role of FLEG II was to facilitate developing horizontal links between forest-dependent communities and as the expert centre for forest-friendly business ideas. We see a great potential in matching expertise and efforts of local people from two countries to use non-timber forest resources for a better and more sustainable life in their remote villages.” Andrey Zaytsev, ENPI-FLEG II Country Program Coordinator for IUCN in Russia
