Russia launches 1st forest-climate project in Arctic region

Russia has launched the first forest-climate project in its Arctic region, the Project Office for Arctic Development (PORA) said on Tuesday.

The project, which covers 20,700 hectares in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, aims to restore and reproduce forest ecosystems, establish a natural and climatic testing ground, and strengthen carbon monitoring capacity in the Arctic, PORA said in a statement.

Key activities include forest planting, remote forest monitoring, soil and environmental studies, and assessment of the potential for carbon accumulation, it added.

The project is expected to improve methodologies for climate initiatives and increase the liquidity of Arctic carbon units on the global market, the office said.

This is an important step for the entire Arctic, and its success can attract attention to the Russian climate project market and become an additional source of funding for the regions, said Maxim Dankin, general director of PORA.

Forest-climate projects are designed to increase forests' ability to absorb greenhouse gases. Russia has vowed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

(Cover: A summer night view of the Kola Peninsula, Russia. /VCG)