Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Virgin Komi Forests

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Type
  
Natural

Reference
  
719

UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription
  
1995

Criteria
  
vii, ix

UNESCO region
  
Europe and North America

Location
  
Russian Federation

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Russia komi republic expedition to the virgin komi forests


The Virgin Komi Forests is a natural UNESCO World Heritage site in the Northern Ural Mountains of the Komi Republic, Russia. At 32,800 kmĀ² it is the largest virgin forest in Europe.

Virgin Komi Forests Virgin Komi Forests Sights

The Virgin Komi Forests belong to the Ural Mountains taiga ecoregion. Dominant tree species include Siberian Spruce, Siberian Fir and Siberian Larch, while the most prominent mammals are the reindeer, the sable, the mink and the hare.

Virgin Komi Forests Virgin Komi Forests Greenpeace Russia

The site corresponds to Russia's Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve and Yugyd Va National Park. Its World Heritage Site status was recognised in 1995, making it the first natural World Heritage site in the country. This recognition brought the site additional funding from abroad and saved it from imminent logging by a French company (HUET Holding). However, conservation threats remain, illegal logging and gold-mining in particular. Deposits of gold in the northern part of the Yugyd-Va National Park were to be mined prior to 1995.

Virgin Komi Forests Virgin Komi Forests Russia39s Emerald Gem Life in Russia

Despite the area's recognition as a World Heritage site, attempts at extracting gold are being actively lobbied by the Head of the Republic and Komi's Ministry of Nature. The regional government's attempts to move the site's borders so as to exclude the gold-rich parts and strip them of their protected status have been ruled out by Komi's Supreme Court.

Virgin Komi Forests Virgin Komi Forests Greenpeace Russia

References

Virgin Komi Forests Wikipedia


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