Knowledge Base

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

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

What are ancient forests?

In our project "Ancient Forests," we refer to ancient forests as large natural forest ecosystems, predominantly old-growth, which have developed over thousands of years into complex biogeocenoses of wild nature. Our interactive map shows intact forest landscapes: these are large natural landscapes, including forests and natural non-forest areas, forming cohesive ecosystems of the Ancient Forests. In scientific terms, there are concepts of old-growth and primary forests, as well as intact forest landscapes. These are different but interconnected categories. We believe that the concept of ancient forest better shapes public perception and correctly defines our position: it is precisely these ancient forest ecosystems that need urgent federal protection on a national scale. The scientific value of such ecosystems lies in their natural structure, continuity of ecological processes, and complex interconnections among thousands of species of living organisms. Here, there are trees of various ages, deadwood at different stages of decomposition, natural soil communities, fungal networks, diverse microorganisms, and complex food chains. All this is formed as a result of the long-term natural development of the forest. Such ecosystems provide habitats for many specialized species, participate in regulating the water regime, carbon accumulation, and maintaining the resilience of natural processes. The integrity of ancient forest masses is of particular value. Large intact areas allow for the preservation of the natural dynamics of forests, including natural fires, windthrows, tree generation renewal, and vegetation recovery. Here, sustainable populations of large wild animals can exist, which require vast spaces for movement, reproduction, and foraging. The destruction and fragmentation of such areas disrupt ecological connections that have formed over centuries and millennia. It is important to understand: the age of an individual tree and the age of a forest ecosystem are different scientific characteristics. Even where the ancient stand was renewed after natural fires, the forest ecosystem itself could have maintained its natural continuity for millennia. Therefore, evaluating the value of the Ancient Forests solely by the age of trees or the area of forest cover is scientifically incorrect. This is why we advocate for the preservation of large cohesive natural masses of the Ancient Forests. A destroyed ancient forest ecosystem cannot be fully restored by simply planting trees. A new forest can be grown, but restoring the complex natural interconnections characteristic of old-growth ecosystems may take centuries, and some lost components and processes may be irrecoverable. Our task is to show the real state of these areas, the scale of their destruction, and the scientifically justified need for urgent state protection.
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