Much of the world's boreal forests grow in northwestern Russia. They exist only in the northern hemisphere and play a major role in the world's climate because they absorb carbon dioxide. That’s why efforts are being made with international aid to protect them from logging and forest fires.
The primal forests covering much of the autonomous republic of Komi in northwestern Russia have been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1995.

Fifteen percent of the republic's surface is under protection - but still threatened by illegal logging and forest fires.