Model forests of Russia

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The site has been produced with financial support
from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

WHAT IS THE MODEL FOREST?

According to the International Model Forest Network:

A model forest brings together and forms a partnership between individuals and organizations sharing the common goal of sustainable forest management.

A model forest provides a unique forum where these partners can gain a greater understanding of conflicting views, share their knowledge, and combine their expertise and resources to develop innovative, region-specific approaches to sustainable forest management.

A model forest acts as a giant, hands-on laboratory in which these leading-edge techniques are researched, developed, applied, and monitored.

The Model Forest Program uses the word "model", much the same way people do when describing a model student or citizen. A model forest is an example of leading edge forest management practices and research. By developing partnerships, each model forest is working towards achieving sustainable forest management in their area.

The Model Forest Program understands that a forest is much more than trees. It is a complex and beautiful balance of interconnecting ecosystems. This expanding definition of "forest" also includes the demands people place on forest resources. Essentially, people have become part of the forest.

Finally, the sustainable forest management which is always proclaimed to be established in the model forest means managing the use, development and protection of forest resources in a manner or at a rate that enables people and communities to provide for their social, economic, and cultural well-being, and for their health and safety while (1) sustaining the potential of forest resources to meet reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; (2) safeguarding the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil and ecosystems; and (3) avoiding, remedying, or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment.

The World Wide Fund for Nature is the most active player in establishing and working with the model forests in Russia. As it was said above model forests allow for creating and testing a bright example of balance between nature and men that we call sustainable management. The main goal of model forests is not only to create a sustainable management example on limited forest territory but to spread the positive experience in the as many directions as it can do.

Currently in Russia several model territories are under development where the principles of sustainable forest management are implemented by project teams of World Wide Fund for Nature. There are:

Long-term conservation of Far East ecoregion. The main goal of forest component of the project is to achieve sustainable forest management for long term conservation of unique forest ecosystems of Far East region.

Model Forest "Priluzie" which is situated in Komi Republic. The main goal of the project is to build a model of sustainable forest management in the North region of Russia that possess significant massives of virgin forests far away from main forest markets, and that's why limited in possibilities of economic development of forest sector.

Long-term conservation of Altai-Sayan ecoregion. The main goal of the project is to create conditions for long-term conservation of unique forest ecosystems. Among the priorities is to introduce the sustainable forest management on the territory and to develop the process of forest certification.

Pskov Model Forest. The main goal of the project is to introduce the model of sustainable forest management in the region where the intensive forest industry is developing and to spread the positive experience of sustainable management in the Northwest of Russia.