Expedition to Udora Pristine Forests
At the end of August, 2009 Silver Taiga representatives organized a two-week expedition to Pyssa pristine forest massif situated in the North of Udora region of Komi.
The goal of the expedition was to investigate pristine forests along Pyssa river, define an ecological value of this forest massif, get acquainted with traditional use of nature in pristine forests by local population and estimate the value of pristine forests for local population.
Besides Silver Taiga a professor from Norway Jorgen Randers took part in the expedition. The participants of the expedition went up about 100 km along Pyssa river and managed to prepare a series of record transects from the river valley up to its divide. With the help of a special methodology a dynamic type, age, proportion of species, landscape characteristics of forests, presence of red book species etc. were defined on these transects.
Due to a hilly relief the forests along Pyssa River vary from typological point of view. There is a great variety of forest types in a comparatively small territory and it provides good conditions for surviving and conservation of lots of red book species of plants and animals. It contributes to development of traditional use of nature by local population (hunting and fishing). According to interviews with local population forest resources like mushrooms, berries, game animals and fish play a significant role in their life.
A great value of Pyssa taiga for support of traditional way of life and surviving of local population gives a good opportunity for ecological tourism development in this area. The first steps have been already taken in this direction.
Local people and Administration of Udora region hope that tourism development will help to solve the problem of unemployment of local population and that pristine forest will be preserved for the future generation.