Vital Forest Graphics

Boreal forest extent

RUSSIA

FINLAND

SWEDEN NORWAY

NORTH POLE

2005). Some link the surge in illegal log- ging in Russia to the adoption of a new for- est code which led to changes in issuance of logging permits (Taiga Rescue Network 2008). Official statistics from the Baltic countries estimate the illegal harvesting at 0.26 million m3, just less than 1 per cent of the total cutting volume. However, WWF reports illegal timber exports from the Bal- tic countries to Europe at 5.1 million m3, an estimate which is 20 times higher than the officially reported illegal harvesting. On the other hand, the countries in the boreal zone are forerunners in monitoring progress towards sustainable forest ma- nagement.

ICELAND

Alaska (USA)

CANADA

c h a ng e . While the above

Wh i l e

the boreal zone is one of the Earth’s most sparsely

ground biomass is low compared

to forests in temperate or tropical environ- ments, the organic soil content can be very high. This particularly applies to boreal forests in the Russian Federation. A rise in temperature is likely to cause increased organic decomposition which in turn will lead to the accelerated release of substantial amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Analysis also suggests that po-pulations of insects such as mountain pine beetles which periodically erupt into large-scale outbreaks have expanded over the past 40 years (Taylor 2006). As the result of such insect infestations tree mortality rates increase, further reducing forest carbon uptake.

populated zones it is home to many indig- enous peoples. The Russian Federation recognizes more than 40 Small-numbered Indigenous Peoples of Russia living in the boreal and taiga zone, each having a maxi- mum of 50 000 members. The Canadian Census of Population 2006 found that there are over 1.17 million aboriginal people in Canada, representing nearly 4 per cent of the country’s total population (Statistics Canada 2008). Mining for minerals, oil and gas is prev- alent in many parts of the boreal zone and often is the cause of environmental con- cern. In 2008, the Canadian government decided to protect at least 225000 square kilometers of Ontario’s vast boreal forest from mining and other resource devel- opment projects and restrict land use to tourism and traditional aboriginal prac- tices such as hunting and fishing (MNRO 2008). Illegal logging is a serious issue, espe- cially in remote areas of the Russian Fed- eration. Estimates of the extent of illegal logging in the Federation vary consider- ably, with between 5 and 30 per cent of the boreal forest area affected (MCPFE

Illegal logging in the

Baltic countries

;OV\ZHUK J\IPJ TL[YLZ VM PSSLNHS` OHY]LZ[LK ^VVK

3H[]PH

Cutting smaller parcels in

,Z[VUPH

Halsingland, Sweden

Cutting area in % of total area cut

30

1980-1990 1990-2000

10 15 20 25

3P[O\HUPH

5

0

2 3 5

10

20

40

500

100

Cutting size (ha)

:V\YJL! 4*7-,

Source: EEA2006.

VITAL FOREST GRAPHICS 47