CONSERVATION OF RUSSIAN ARCTIC BIODIVERSITY

Abstract

Russian Arctic represents the most typical landscapes of high latitudes: forest-tundra; tundra zone (with subzones of southern, typical and Arctic tundra), and the polar deserts zone. All types and variants of ecosystems, soils, and phytocenoses characteristic for the Arctic region as a whole are represented there. Recently the role of anthropogenic variants of tundra and meadows has also increased noticeably. There is up to 80% of all circumpolar biodiversity within terrestrial and water areas of the Russian sector of Arctic regions. Therefore the ecological projects directed on studying, preservation and sustainable use of biological resources in the Russian Arctic might be considered representative for the whole circumpolar area. The organization of several large reserves with a strict regime of protection is necessary for preservation of unique biodiversity of this region. The development of areas of traditional wildlife management could solve both ethno-cultural and ecological problems, including the conservation of terrestrial Arctic biota.

Keywords

• biodiversity
• terrestrial ecosystems
• conservation
• arctic
• tundra
• major impacts
• nature protected areas