Impact of forestry on taiga ecosystems, species diversity and distribution in North-West Russia

Abstract
This project will gather all the relevant information of plant and animal censuses and investigations from North-West Russia. Nature investigations will be related to forest inventories to study the impact of forest changes on taiga ecosystems, diversity and abundance. During the last half century there has been an enormous "natural experiment" in which forestry in Finland has been very intensive, whereas in Karelia forestry has been negligent leaving large primeval areas untouched.  Our preliminary results suggest that these forests are "key areas" from the point of view of taiga forest conservation in Fennoscandia. Using of Finnish census data as comparison helps us to predict the future development of Russian animal and plant populations in rapidly changing forest environments. The study will provide guidelines for conservation planning, e.g. for designing the forest reserve networks in boreal areas, and important empirical information for conservation biology in general.

Project leader: Research Professor Harto Lindén, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Pukinmäenaukio 4, PL 6, 00721, Helsinki, +358 (0)9 205 751 271, Harto.Linden(at)rktl.fi, www.rktl.fi

Researchers
Juri Kurhinen, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Juri.Kurhinen(at)rktl.fi
Ilpo Hanski, University of Helsinki, Ilpo.Hanski(at)helsinki.fi
Tapio Lindholm, Finnish Environment Institute, Tapio.Lindholm(at)environment.fi
Pekka Helle, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Oulu Game research, Pekka.Helle(at)rktl.fi
Heikki Henttonen, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Heikki.Henttonen(at)metla.fi
Pertti Uotila, University of Helsinki, Pertti.Uotila(at)helsinki.fi

Project description