Asiya Zagidullina, Natalia Glushkovskaya, Elena Kushnevskaya, Denis Mirin, Vera Kotkova, Natalia Dinkelaker Inventory of biological diversity in pristine boreal forests in the northe

Saint-Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Institute of Botany of Russian Academy of Science, Saint-Petersburg, Saint Petersburg Forest Research Institute, Saint-Petersburg, ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg

The landscape on watersheds of Northern Dvina and Verhnyaa Vashka rivers comprises pristine boreal forests which are important for the Northwestern region of Russia. Presently, commercial harvesting constitutes the biggest threat to the existence of these forests. Non-governmental environmental organizations (WWF Russia) and administration of Archangelsk region have supported the inventory of biodiversity on the model areas of the landscapes.

The landscape exhibits high diversity of natural ecosystems and species and can be viewed as a representative example of the European middle and northern taiga with preserved gradient of different successional stages and habitat types. Besides, some rare types of ecosystems (forests with fir (Abies sibirica), larch (Larix sibirica), herb rich forests, minerotrophic swamps etc.) are revealed in the landscapes.

The pristine forests are inhabited by rare and endangered plant and fungi species, many of which are listed in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation and Arkhangelsk region. Particularly, at least 4 new habitats of extremely rare fungi species Ganoderma lucidum were found. The population is a source of valuable gene pool. Such species are rare because they can survive only in landscape-level unfragmented forest areas with natural heterogeneity and mosaic of stands. They need also long term continuity of old growth trees and dead wood of different tree species The forests are home to one of the last remaining populations of endangered wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Besides, many vulnerable species could be recommended to preserve additionally.

Thus, such factors as commitment regarding sustainable forest management, f.e. conservation planning and protection of intact forests must be considered before allocating land to the timber harvesting land base. Particularly, the pristine forest landscape should be preserved by assigning them a status of regional reserves in first priority.