Greenpeace: in 13 years Russia has lost wild forests the size of Karelia

The area of ​​intact forest areas (IFL) in Russia has decreased by almost 7% over 13 years, which is comparable to the territory of the Republic of Karelia. TD was informed about this by the press service of Greenpeace Russia.

According to a study published in the scientific journal Science Advances, the area of ​​wild forests around the world continues to decline rapidly. The main reason for the destruction of forests is timber harvesting (about 60 thousand square kilometers of forests were cut down for this purpose). Also, large volumes of wood are used in agriculture, mining, and oil and gas production.

The largest forests not affected by industrial activity currently remain in Russia, Canada and Brazil. However, only 13% of ILTs are legally protected worldwide. For example, one of the main causes of forest destruction in the taiga is human-caused fires, which destroy 21% of IFL. Also, the expansion of oil and gas fields in Siberia led to the fragmentation of ancient massifs.

According to the researchers, if current rates of deforestation continue, many countries in Southeast Asia will lose their IFLs within the next 20 years. The most dangerous consequences of these local environmental disasters are the destruction of the habitat of many species of animals and plants, atmospheric pollution with carbon dioxide and deterioration of the natural purification of water and air.

However, environmentalists are most concerned about the situation in the tropical zone, where the rate of loss of wild forests by 2013 was three times higher than a decade earlier. In Latin America, in particular, they decreased by 322 thousand square kilometers.

According to the results of a published study, ecologists are now actively developing methods to slow down the rate of forest destruction in the coming years. According to scientists, the authorities of Indonesia and Brazil should soon regulate the rights of indigenous populations who advocate for the responsible use of ancient forests. Earlier, the Indonesian government recognized for the first time the rights of indigenous peoples to nine traditionally used forest areas. Also, the Munduruku people in Brazil managed to prevent the construction of a major hydroelectric power station, which could have led to the flooding of most of the intact forest areas in the country.

Nowadays, specially protected natural areas (SPNA) play the most important role in the conservation of intact forests. The FSC certification system for environmental and social responsibility of forest users has not yet been able to slow down the rate of forest destruction, but in early January it published requirements for a number of forest companies. FSC ecologists suggested that the management of the largest enterprises suspend work in intact forests until the relevant documents are finalized and approved. In turn, Greenpeace representatives monitor compliance with these conditions.

Even more important news and good texts from us and our colleagues can be found in the Telegram channel “Such things to do.” Subscribe!