Development of the marginal forested areas of the Russian European North

Abstract

This study presents the development of the forest sector in the marginal forested areas of the Russian North based on the use of the river basins providing raw material and serving as the natural link between the previously established core and periphery. The forest sector is an important factor in the economic development often serving as the only source of human subsistence and well-being of these areas. The role of the marginal areas in remaining the source of a continuous raw material supply to the main manufacturing centres is crucial. The period of recent Post-Soviet development has showed that marginal areas are becoming increasingly active and concerned with promotion of their economic development by restructuring, rationalising and modernising the forest-based activities.

Keywords

• Russian North
• economic development
• core-periphery model
• forest resources
• marginality
• transport network