Knowledge Base

Here you can find Pavel Pashkov’s answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Interactive map of the Territories of Full Ecological Tranquility (TFET)How is the area of Russia's intact forest landscapes changing?Why bears and how is the register organized?Why do we need our online Earth observation station?The increase in quotas for bear hunting coincided with the expansion of the sports hunting industryHow do ancient forests affect the climate?Why am I against planting forests in "rows" and critical of modern reforestation?Can the shooting of bears provoke new encounters between animals and humans?How should we protect nature to achieve real change?They want to allow bears to be killed all winter during hibernationWhat threat has emerged for the reserves?What do we propose to solve the problem?How can an ordinary person help wildlife?What do we need to do to have a global impact on environmental issues?Why do bears approach humans, and is it related to pine nuts?Is it true that forests in Russia are only increasing?Is it necessary to write to government authorities if the responses are just formalities?What do studies say about fires and roads?Why don't petitions to protect wildlife work?What is the 'Green Page' and why is it needed?How many bears are there in Russia overall?What are Public Initiatives and how do they help protect nature?What are ancient forests?What is the Concept of Territories of Full Ecological Tranquility (TFET) and how does it differ from the existing global protected area system?

Why bears and how is the register organized?

In our project 'Ancient Forests,' we are creating an independent register of official quotas for the hunting of brown and Himalayan bears in Russia. The bear is a large territorial predator that requires extensive natural spaces, a stable food base, and safe places for breeding and wintering. Its life is closely linked to the condition of large forest ecosystems, which are currently being destroyed by fires, industrial logging, road construction, and the economic development of the wilderness. At the same time, in various regions of Russia, bears are increasingly approaching populated areas, leading to tragic conflicts with humans. Against this backdrop, the permitted volumes of animal harvesting have significantly increased. According to the official decrees collected by us from the regions, the number of bears allowed to be hunted has risen from 24 405 in the 2019/2020 season to 52 074 in the 2026/2027 season. This is an increase of more than two times over seven years! We collect decrees from regional authorities, record the approved quotas by hunting seasons, and consolidate the information into a single database. Why specifically the bear? Large predators require vast natural spaces, so changes in their distribution, behavior, and population status can indicate serious ecosystem disruptions. However, additional research is needed to establish the causes. This is why we will compare the quota register with an interactive map of intact forests, the scale of fires, logging, road construction, and recorded conflicts with humans. Our goal is to scientifically investigate the possible connection between the destruction of ancient forest ecosystems of the Ancient Forests, changes in bear behavior, and the increase in permitted hunting scales.
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