Russia’s forest comprises 22% of the world's timber resources both by area and volume, and nearly 32% of the world's commercially productive forest area. The forest resources of Russia, which encompass nearly half of the country's total land area, 809 million hectares, 2 billion acres, accounts for one half of the global coniferous resource and one fifth of the non-tropical deciduous resources.
Russia only accounts for 5% of the world’s logging production volume. Meanwhile, Russia only represents 3% of the global processed wood output, well below its potential, especially when compared to its southern neighbor China, which effectively acquires all of its softwood resource from Russia. In fact, China gets over 70% of all its fiber, hardwood and softwood, from Russian forests.
Close to 65% of Siberia's timber grows in areas of permafrost, the resulting growth rate is among the slowest in the world, which results in high quality commercial wood. The average age of commercially viable conifers in Siberia is close to 150 years, roughly 50% older than most logging regions in the U.S. and Canada. The most common softwood species grown in this area are Pine, Larch, and Spruce. Birch and Aspen comprise the deciduous species. Both species are desirable because of the small amount of heartwood that results in a uniform color.
Source: UNECE, UN
|
