RUFORCLIM - Impacts, challenges and opportunities for Russian forests, forestry and forest bioeconomy to respond to climate change

RUFORCLIM project studies the impacts, challenges and opportunities for Russian forests, forestry and forest bioeconomy to respond to climate change. RUFORCLIM aims to facilitate the exchange of information, climate policy options and good practices between the EU and Russia with a view to enable a better science-informed practical implications. This is done by summarising existing data and information on the impacts of climate change on Russian forests in terms of their vulnerability, including natural disturbances and related carbon balance, as well as understanding of other drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. The project also offers a platform for further discussions of climate smart forestry strategies and measures to reap the potential of forestry and the forest bioeconomy for climate change mitigation in Russia, in synergy with other economic, social and environmental benefits.

During its Phase 1 (1.4.2019 - 30.9.2020), the project carried out three scientific assessments on the following topics:

1. Climate change and Russian forests: impacts, vulnerability and adaptation needs
2. Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) options in Russia and potential climate change mitigation
3. The role of the bioeconomy in long-term decarbonisation pathways in Russia

RUFORCLIM also advances bilateral scientific cooperation in pursuit of the goals of the Paris Agreement by:

1. using a collaborative approach and involvement in the project implementation experts and scientists from both the European Union countries and the Russian Federation
2. identifying and demonstrating mutual interests and benefits in such cooperation
3. sharing best practices and experience, doing joint research and producing joint scientific reports, identifying the prospects for cooperation

Phase 1 of the project was completed successfully and as a result the report on Russian Forests and Climate Change was published. More information on the report and free download: https://doi.org/10.36333/wsctu11

Phase 2 of the project (1.10.2020 - 31.10.2021) focuses on raising public awareness about the importance of Russian forests, forestry and bioeconomy for climate change mitigation. The activities include:

• producing raising awareness materials: infographic videos and policy briefs
• organizing in Russia raising awareness events for broad range of interested parties including engagement of the state authorities, scientific and business community, NGOs and others.
• working with Russian media to improve understanding of climate change, boost science-based climate change coverage in national and regional media.

This webpage has been created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union’s Partnership Instrument and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) in the context of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The contents of this page are the sole responsibility of the European Forest Institute (EFI) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.

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