In the short film “See the forest” we see the wonders of the forests located between the Northern Dvina and Pinega rivers through the eyes of ecologist Andrey Schegolev and Victor Khudyakov, a local hunter from the village of Kushkopala.

Filming took place this summer. The film crew spent several days in the wild taiga forest which is one of the last largest intact forest landscapes in Europe.

“This landscape made a big impression on me. Sheer cliffs, tall, dense forests running like a wall along the river. Bright golden pine forests shading into a dense thicket of ancient spruces. The forest turned out to be full of life. Everywhere we encountered moose, beavers and foxes. But they would run away before our boat came within 100 meters of them.” Recounted Artem Kirilkin, the director of photography. “This is a simply wonderful forest; one could work here for months and every day find something new and surprising.”

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Filming in intact forests between Northern Dvina and Pinega Rivers

(с) WWF-Russia / Andrey Schegolev, Tatiana Khakimulina

The crew’s guide through the forest, and one of the heroes of the film, was Viktor Khudyakov, a local hunter from the Pinezhsky region of Arkhangelsk Oblast, whose life has been entwined with these forests since childhood. Viktor, like many other in the local community, still feeds his family primarily through hunting, fishing, and picking mushrooms and berries. Viktor is concerned that the forest, which plays such a large role in his life, could disappear as a result of industrial logging.

Experts from WWF-Russia share his concerns.

“Long-running research conducted by scientists and ecologists has shown the high conservation value of the forests between these rivers. These forests help to regulate the climate, clear the rivers and provide natural habitats for lots of plant and animal species, including those subject to special legal protection. Our estimates show that if the current rates and methods of logging are maintained, this taiga forest may simply disappear,” said Andrey Shegolev, the Head of the Forest Program at WWF-Russia Barents Branch in Arkhangelsk.

The creation of a protection area (PA) covering the reserve could help to protect this unique intact forest from logging. The project was developed by WWF-Russia in cooperation with the Centre for Environmental Resources Management and Environmental Protection of Arkhangelsk Region. Under the project, the Dvisko-Pinezhsky reserve will include forest ranges in the Kholmogorsky, Pinezhsky, Vinogradsky and Verkhnetoemsky districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast. The total area under conservation will amount to approximately 350 000 hectares. WWF-Russia believes it is fundamental that the reserve territory is accessible for mushroom and berry picking, fishing and hunting. Only activities that could have a damaging environmental impact such as logging, mining and roadbuilding should be totally prohibited.

The problem is that the whole territory of the planned reserve has been leased out to forest companies. Although all leading forest leasing companies expressed their support for the creation of the reserve, the negotiations of the boundaries of the reserve that would be acceptable for all parties has progressed slowly. Currently, WWF-Russia has agreed on the boundaries of the reserve relating to land leased by the Titan Group. WWF-Russia calls on other forest companies to follow Titan Group’s lead.

WWF-Russia expresses its thanks to the company MGTS for its support of the work of the Intact Forest Conservation Foundation.

Headline photo: (c) WWF-Russia

See the Forest

For additional information please contact

Anna Porokhova

Press Officer of Archangelsk Ecoregional Office

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Andrey Shegolev

Head of Forest Program Office