Distant Ties: The Vanishing Horizons of the Russian Taiga — Echoes in the Rhythms of History

Together, comrades, we are trying to preserve the last relatively undisturbed ecosystems — the last Ancient Forests of the Earth. In our country, this means the Russian Taiga. But our country is vast. In some places, these are more southern ecosystems, in others — meadow ecosystems, not forests. Not everywhere are these boreal northern forests — the taiga.

A completely separate topic — the mountains. Until recently, the mountains defended themselves. Through remoteness. Through terrain that made human access difficult. But now, technical barriers no longer work. And the authorities, serving business interests, are removing the remaining legal protections for total exploitation “to the bone.” They are literally preparing for the destruction of the last corners of the Earth still untouched by humans.

They say to me: you're exaggerating.

They say: it's "economic development," it's "regional advancement," it's "money for poor residents of depressed regions."

I believe all this is nothing more than a pretty justification for the urge to grab and consume. That same "economic development" is just the raw greed of the here and now. No one really cares about "regional development" or the "residents of depressed areas." What matters is that piece of living flesh of the Russian Taiga that packs of human predators can still reach — tear off and devour right here and now.

Historically, the “economic development” of Siberia and the exploitation of the Russian Taiga began with the campaigns of Yermak’s private army, under the patronage and funding of the Stroganov boyars. We usually think of this as something heroic. But if you think about it — it was the first major destruction of Siberia’s nature. Back then, it was for the sake of “soft gold” — fur. The Tsar’s central power couldn’t reach the riches of the taiga, so it handed them over to the oligarchs of the time, in exchange for certain payments to the treasury. The centuries-long genocide of fur-bearing animals in the Siberian taiga ended in the early 20th century with the forced creation of the Barguzin sable reserve: all the sables had been exterminated. Just a few individuals remained to rebuild the population.

Then the taiga began to be destroyed on an industrial scale, using ever more powerful technological tools of destruction. Many methods and practices of destroying the taiga are being revived at a new technical level. Gold is being mined again. Mercury is again being poured into rivers, poisoning all the fish. “Innovative” businesses are emerging, based on killing wild animals using new technologies of unprecedented power: helicopters, ATVs, drones, GPS systems, and night vision optics. It's a real war! Kill everything in your path!

I read on Wikipedia: “Yermak's Siberian campaign (1581–1585) — the campaign of Yermak's Cossack detachment into the territory of the Siberian Khanate, which marked the beginning of the Russian conquest of Siberia.”

It's been 444 years! Why is this mindless destruction of living systems still going on?!

In the USSR, at some point, a system of nature reserves was created. A real SYSTEM of protected areas management. “System,” “systemic organization of activity” — that’s what I believe is essential. Especially now, when scientific data allows us to understand much more deeply the complex interconnections in living systems. Logically, one would expect the expansion of the existing system of nature reserves in the country. But…

Instead, just as the Tsar gave the taiga to the Stroganovs for looting, so now the federal authorities hand it over to modern oligarchs.

I am promoting the concept of Territories of Ecological Peace and Tranquility (TEPT). It seems to me that this is the only SYSTEMIC solution — especially considering the fact that natural ecosystems regulate the climate. And it would be a direct and logical continuation of the Soviet reserve system. But again — “but...”

Instead of scientific nature reserves, we see a substitution with “hunting reserves” modeled after Africa. Commercial interests replace both scientific and state interests. The internal essence of action is perverted. In every sense, we are seeing a rollback to the predatory practices of 200–300 years ago. Entire territories are handed over to modern boyars-oligarchs. But now it happens on a new technical level. Remote and previously inaccessible areas are no longer so unreachable — and the division and commercial exploitation begins.

As a result, the remnants of Soviet legislation that still protect nature reserves are being urgently dismantled. Removing the last legal barrier. A mere formality — but still an obstacle. It gives “little people” — the ants underfoot — a chance to object, to demand something.

Surely everyone understands what natural cycles are. Summer – autumn – winter – spring – and again summer. Human society is also a complex system embedded within another complex system — the Biosphere of planet Earth. Society also seems to live in cycles. Economic cycles, for example, are well known. I believe that the era of "robber barons" will inevitably come to an end during this stage of the historical cycle. Spring follows winter — always! And we must, first of all, preserve what remains of the Soviet reserve system. That system is now a relic of the past cycle — and therefore more progressive than what we see today.

And second: it is on the foundation of what we manage to preserve from the Soviet system that the Territories of Ecological Peace and Tranquility will be built and expanded in the future. We will not go quietly. We will achieve the creation of TEPT — not only in Russia, but around the world.

After winter comes spring — and then summer. It is inevitable!

© PAVEL PASHKOV