Background and Proposed Approach and Priorities. The FOREST Project’s Applied Forestry Research Component supports research activities as needed in the four technical components and focused on developing baseline maps showing carbon stocks as an overall indicator of the FOREST Project. The extent to which critical carbon sinks in the RFE and Siberia are conserved and sustained is an important objective of FOREST. During Years One and Two, a collaborative research network was developed for measuring changes in greenhouse gas emissions⎯mainly carbon dioxide (CO2)⎯and changes in carbon stocks in the Russia FOREST Project area. The team worked with partner organizations to complement carbon monitoring methodologies and to obtain a clear picture of the impact of various activities on carbon stocks in the project area. The Carbon Working Group used remotely sensed data and data from permanent sample plots to generate carbon vegetation maps of the project areas. Russian Partners Collaborating research institutions include the Sukachev Institute of Forest, Krasnoyarsk; the Far Eastern Forestry Research Institute, Khabarovsk; the Far Eastern Economics Research Institute, Khabarovsk; the Far Eastern Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Khabarovsk; the Pacific Institute of Geography, Far Eastern Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok; the Saint Petersburg Forest Ecological Center; and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis; Department of Science and Information Systems under the Ministry of Natural Resources; Department of Forestland Management and Rehabilitation under the Ministry for Natural Resources.
Background and Proposed Approach and Priorities. According to official estimates, eight out of ten fires in the Russian Far East (RFE) and Siberia are caused by people. The FOREST Project is working to change behaviors and attitudes of people in the Russian Far East and Siberia to reduce the incidence of human-caused forest fires through a combination of targeted training and general awareness activities. The goal of this component is to reduce the number of human-caused fires in the five regions covered by the project. The Fire Prevention component has had marked success in Years One and Two and its innovative approach has been recognized by many as a valuable addition to the forest fire prevention program in Russia. Changing behaviors is a complex process which takes time. The Forest Fire Prevention team draws upon communications research and practical experience from throughout the world as well as audience research and strategic communication planning to develop a systematic approach to behavioral change. XXXXXX works to involve and mobilize professional foresters and as many influential groups as possible in the five target areas, developing communication programs and advocates of forest fire prevention. These groups—forest services, mass media, schools, NGOs, associations, private sector organizations, community leaders, and others—will continue to be advocates long after the FOREST Project is finished and will create a multiplier effect, training and encouraging others in forest fire prevention behavior, thus sustaining the forest fire prevention program over the long term. Basic materials for mass media, forester training in communications, educating school aged children, and targeted groups campaigns have been prepared and distributed through more than 750 individuals and groups. In summary, the role of FOREST is to be a catalyst and facilitator to get others to promote forest fire prevention.
Background and Proposed Approach and Priorities. The FOREST Project is introducing an integrated pest monitoring methodology to track forest insect pest populations to increase the ability of the Ministry of Natural Resources to prevent pest outbreaks. The implementation of the new pest monitoring methodology in the Russian Far East is extremely important not only for saving Russian forests, but, also for protecting forests outside of Russia as well. In the light of past experience with the Asian gypsy moth being introduced into the U.S. via grain ships arriving from several ports in the Russian Far East, it is in the best interest of the U.S. economy to monitor for incipient outbreaks of the Siberian moth and resultant activity by wood boring insects in the Primorski and Khabarovski Krais. Accordingly, the Primorski and Khabarovski Krai Centers for Forest Protection and the FOREST Project initiated monitoring in that area in Year Two. The methodology focuses on monitoring habitat preferred by the Siberian moth within the vast territories of Siberia and the Russian Far East. The methodology also uses geographic information system technology, and contemporary sampling methods such as pheromone traps. The approach has been proven in other countries to be a more cost effective and reliable system for tracking outbreaks of moths and beetles than traditional survey techniques.
Background and Proposed Approach and Priorities. A significant amount of Russia’s timber products are exported in a raw form. This not only promotes increased harvesting, but it also hurts the Russian economy. Jobs are lost to companies in other countries that process and sell Russia’s raw materials. Siberia and the Russia Far East have the potential of increasing employment and earnings through increasing value-added processing and sustainable forest management. This component works through associations and assists the businesses to add value to their products. FOREST can reach a greater number of beneficiaries by working with wood and non- timber forest products associations rather than working with individual companies. Associations ensure sustainability as they represent a practical depository for skills, knowledge, and linkages. This component has a three-tiered approach: • Strengthen associations • Strengthen association member businesses • Provide information and assistance that can benefit the entire sector
Background and Proposed Approach and Priorities. The FOREST Project works with krai and oblast administrations and beneficiaries to adjust existing policies that pose obstacles to the four technical components. XXXXXX is not reviewing general forest policy, but is strengthening groups to advocate to change policy and to bring policy makers together to review policies that hurt the current economy and environment as it relate to FOREST.
Background and Proposed Approach and Priorities. The grant component supports the four technical components of the FOREST Project by funding Russian organizations, institutions, and non-governmental organizations for specific activities that will help to achieve the project’s goals. Preparation for the grants component was started in Year One, and two grant cycles have been completed during Year Two. The third and fourth grant awarding cycles have been proposed for Year Three.
Background and Proposed Approach and Priorities. The FOREST Project uses expert consultants who volunteer their time to work on specific short- term assignments. Use of volunteer experts has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective way to bring focused technical expertise to achieve results. Volunteers contribute significantly while in country, and many maintain relationships with the partner organizations once they return to their home countries. These consultants offer the opportunity to promote exchanges and long-term relationships between Russian and American businesses and organizations. The volunteer component is demand driven and based on the needs that component coordinators, working group members, and partner organizations identified. This is particularly useful for unanticipated problems that arise and that could be best solved by an expert with specific qualifications. The assistance provided by volunteer-experts is a considerable, potential and economic resource. Realization of this resource depends on a number of requirements: • Accurate identification of the problem • The development of a realistic and doable task • Getting a perfect match of the volunteer’s expertise and skills • A clear understanding of the task by the volunteer • The Host to be open to Volunteer’s recommendations and innovations The volunteers assist in finding effective solutions over the problems and help to develop long- term relations between Russian and US businesses and organizations.
