Rescue plan for Russian forests
The EU-funded project 'Identification and management of the environmental risks associated with man-made changes using the cambial activity monitoring in North-Western Russia' (Cambiforrus) looked at global change in Russia's northwest region. The project strengthened EU involvement in controlling the region's impact on forest growth by providing training to Russian scientists. It established a field measurement station with high-tech research equipment in the country's Laly Research Forest, found in the Komi region. The initiative encouraged joint research projects and helped the Russians manage climate change. Its key achievements include training for scientists, establishment of the dendro-ecological and magnetic field measurement station in Komi and dissemination of project results. Cambiforrus closely examined climatic conditions in the region based on dendrochronological data of climatic factors affecting the radial growth of coniferous trees. It investigated forest risks to biodiversity such as fire, insects and extreme events that negatively affect Russia's boreal forests. The project made significant headway in understanding forest fires and insect outbreaks. It also studied storm intensity and the effect this has on climate change. Another important achievement was the high resolution regional climate modelling for northwest Russia to predict future temperature changes. This was accompanied by cambial activity monitoring at Laly Research Station and intensive dendrometer measurements. Importantly, the project developed a strategy to identify individual meteorological parameters for boreal forest conditions. It also mapped the effects of changes in the electromagnetic environment on trees. Moreover, real-time monitoring of natural geomagnetic variations yielded valuable information on internal biological processes that take place in various tree species. The joint project helped improve the quality of data and knowledge on changing environmental conditions in the region, although more cooperation is needed on forest growth in Karelia, Leningrad oblast, Nents and Arkchangelsk regions. Hopefully, more joint efforts such as this one will intensify efforts to map climate change and protect these rich forests in northwest Russia.
