This fall marked the completion of the first forest restoration project under the climate program of the Baikal Lake Foundation, the “Preservation of forests in the Baikal region,” aimed at preserving and systematically restoring the natural ecosystems of the Baikal region following devastating forest fires.
Wildfires threaten animals, insects, and plants, as well as ecosystems as a whole, and they contribute to the acceleration of climate change. In 2023 alone, over 30,000 hectares of taiga burned in Buryatia, highlighting the importance and urgent need for initiatives focused on forest restoration.
Natural forest recovery takes decades; however, in some areas, due to the increased frequency of wildfires and/or landscape characteristics (such as mountainous terrain or other soil features), trees cannot regrow without human assistance. In one such area, the Baikal Lake Foundation successfully implemented a pilot project titled “Preservation of forests in the Baikal region.” The results of the pilot project include the following achievements:
- Restoration of a 5.4-hectare mountainous taiga area within the Ivolginsky Forestry;
- Planting of over 15,000 saplings of local ecosystem species, such as cedar and pine;
- To enhance the survival rate of the saplings, the Foundation’s experts provided specific care measures and survival monitoring, including watering, soil cultivation, supplementary planting, and maintenance logging, which will be conducted over the next 10 years following planting.
In 2024, the Baikal Lake Foundation plans to scale up the forest restoration project and invites partners interested in conserving Baikal’s forests to participate in the next stages, which include:
- Organizing new plantings in the Baikal natural area;
- Including the forest-climate project in the national registry of carbon units;
- Preparing analytical reports and conducting thematic events on forest-climate projects.
“For the Baikal Lake Foundation, climate initiatives are a top priority. This is due to the important role that forest restoration plays in mitigating the impacts of climate change and adapting to them,” noted Anton Efimochkin, the Foundation’s senior project manager. “Ensuring the resilience of Baikal’s ecosystems is the main focus of our project, for which we: select the right site, implement mixed planting, and care for the saplings to ensure their survival.”
Previously, the Foundation launched the “The Baikal: Protecting and Preserving” program in collaboration with the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Zapovednoe Podlemorye,” aimed at strengthening preventive measures in the fight against poaching and illegal logging, as well as for the early detection and rapid response to wildfires.
The Baikal Lake Foundation has released a video featuring information about the “Preservation of forests in the Baikal region” project, showcasing the picturesque landscapes of the majestic forests within the Baikal natural territory, which can be viewed via the provided link.
The implementation of the project was supported by the Ministry of Nature of the Republic of Buryatia and the Buryat branch of Roslesinforg. Charitable support for the project was provided by the “World Around You” Foundation of the company Siberian Wellness.