Atlas of Russia's Intact Landscapes

Nearly a quarter of the world’s current forest area is in Russia. Russia has retained about two thirds of its estimated original forest area. Given its magnitude, Russia’s forests play an important role in the world’s climate. <P>A new study by GFW Russia shows that only about a quarter of the forest zone of Russia is still in large blocks of road-less wilderness – so called intact forest landscapes (also known as frontier forests). This is less than the previous estimate of more than two fifths. <P>The new estimate is presented in an Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest Landscapes and derives from a two year study in which GFW Russia used satellite images and ground observations to fine comb the forest zone of Russia for signs of disturbances by modern land use.