The Virgin Komi Forests
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Forming Europe's natural eastern border along
the Ural Mountains, the Virgin Komi Forests
are the continent's largest unfragmented
oldgrowth forests representing a wide variety
of integrated ecosystems ranging from boreal
forests in the southern part of the territory to
subarctic tundra in the north. The forests,
mountains, wetlands and river valleys that
make up the system are a haven for rare
species and contain one of Europe's most
valuable stores of genetic and biological
diversity.
In 1994 these forests came under direct threat from many sides. A foreign timber company began to carry out clearcut logging along the Pechora and Ilych Rivers while one of the world's largest oil spills destroyed the river and villages downstream. There was no help in sight: park officials can go months without pay as nature conservation has been forgotten in the economic crisis. While Greenpeace campaigners decried the destruction downstream, Greenpeace researchers got to work upstream to organise a nomination to UNESCO's World Natural Heritage List, Russia's first such nomination. Once word of the nomination got out, the loggers disappeared and efforts have turned toward developing a sound management plan for the enormous 3.3 million hectare nature preserve. Contracted by the Federal Government, Greenpeace has worked with local environment groups, ecologists, indigenous peoples, and all levels of government to prepare World Heritage nominations for seven natural areas in Russia. The Virgin Komi Forests was officially added to the World Heritage List in December 1995. Since its listing, the Komi World Heritage site has received commitments of several million dollars in scientific and infrastructure assistance from the Governments of Switzerland and Norway.
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