638 THE CANADIAN FIELD-NATURALIST Vol. 118

lowed by comments on the germination of 78 species Sinelnikova present six years of observations on the by Andrianova and Berkutenko: which taxa require effect of artificial warming on the growth of four tun- pretreatments and which kinds of treatments are effi- dra plants at or near the field station described by cacious. A paper by Kryukov reports briefly on the Sinelnikova (see above). I fear these studies in support relative germination success of 27 species following of the International Experiment (ITEX) proj- different periods of storage. Haese describes a phytoso- ect will be lost to the ITEX community in these pages; ciological analysis of coastal tundra using the methods it belongs with others of its ilk. of Braun-Blanquet, and provides tables typical of this analysis. Hanno and Oka in a short paper that reads DAVID F. MURRAY more like a proposal noted that the Sea of Okhotsk University of Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska affects the of eastern Japan. Pachomov and

ENVIRONMENT The Russian Far East By Josh Newell. Second Edition, 2004. Daniel and Daniel, Each of these 10 administrative regions receives a Publishers, McKinleyville, California, USA. 486 pages, section of the book. Each begins with an overview, U.S.$59.95. Paper. ranging from a paragraph or so to a number of pages, This is a massive and thorough compendium. The followed by extensive entries on: location, size, climate, subtitle reads, “A reference guide for conservation and geography and ecology (including carbon stocks), major development.” The format is a series of chapters each ecosystems, protected areas and their problems, bio- concerning one of the major administrative divisions diversity hotspots, political status, natural resources, of the huge region, abbreviated as “RFE.” These divi- main industries, infrastructure, foreign trade, economic sions are: Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Jewish importance in the Russian Federation, general outlook. Autonomous Oblast, Amur Oblast, Republic of Sakha, This latter section is particularly interesting for such Magadan Oblast, Chukotsky Autonomous Okrug (Chut- items as a full-page table of major environmental issues kotka), Koryak Autonomous Okrug (Koryakia), Kam- and problem areas of each of the regions: fishing, chatka Oblast, Sakhalin Oblast. There are over 50 maps, energy, timber, mining, agriculture. There are pertinent and a host of tables, figures and photographs, as well discussions of the weaknesses of various Russian gov- as an index. ernmental regulations concerning oil, gas and mining Vegetation is organized into the classic Tundra and operations compared to the (already-weak) United formations. This book divides Tundra into two States and Canadian regulations. parts: “Arctic Tundra” and “Tundra” (referred to in There is discussion of various schemes with poten- much Russian ecological literature as “High Arctic” tially-severe effects as well as prospects for a sustain- and “Low Arctic.”) Taiga is defined correctly as “the able economy, ENGOs, the UN Global Environment large mass of the boreal forest that forms the heart of Facility, foreign government aid agencies, other prom- the RFE.” The southern taiga, which in much of Russ- ising sectors such as ecotourism and NTFP (Non Tim- ian ecological literature is known as Ussuri Taiga, is ber Forest Products). There is rather detailed consid- also known as “Dark Taiga” because of the high per- eration of the degradation of zapovedniks (“protected centage of spruce and pine. areas”) by tourism, poaching (salmon, caviar), bear This division serves to differentiate it from the killing (for paws and gall bladders). part of the Taiga which is widely known in The forests of Kamchatka are particularly vulnerable the Reindeer literature as “Light Taiga” because of the and critical for mitigating floods and protection of very large percentage of the forest cover of salmon spawning grounds. (Remember British Colum- . The Reindeer literature, and much ecological bia?). In the RFE the largest emitter of atmospheric literature, also designates the southern-most tundra, CO2 is fossil fuels combustion, but second place is de- combined with the northern-most taiga as “Forest- forestation leading to loss of carbon-rich boreal forest Tundra.” This recognition of it as a separate entity is and replacement by pioneer types of forests and shrub- undoubtedly because the Forest-Tundra is particularly by vegetation. More than 90 percent of the logging in important as winter pasture for the semi-domesticated the RFE is by clearcut. Even plantation-forests do not Reindeer. recover pre-logging stocks of CO2; managed planta- 1 1 The Ussuri taiga is relatively familiar to English- tion-forests usually contain only ⁄3 to ⁄2 the carbon speaking biologists because of translations of works by that undisturbed forests do. such authors as Sdobnikov and Arseniev, as well as Activities to “Save Tropical Forests” are having Kurosawa’s famous 1975 film about Arseniev and adverse effects on the taiga of the RFE… “Plywood Dersu. The number and distinctiveness of the species manufacturers are promoting Russian larch (tamarack) of plants and animals of the RFE is legendary, espe- as a green alternative to tropical luan timber and have cially the Ussuri taiga. been steadily increasing levels over the past decade… 2004 BOOK REVIEWS 639

More than 98 percent of all Russian larch grows on extractive economy (mining, logging, etc.) is particu- some form of (continuous, discontinuous, larly instructive because of the great resemblance to sporadic) making large-scale logging of the species an the history of similar Aboriginal groups and their ex- unwise proposition” (page 31). ploitation or rejection by Canadian governments and “The sheer size of the Siberian and RFE forests and industries. the diversity of their plant and animal life and habitats We read much in the western press about the wide- make these forests a tremendously important factor in spread pollution and environmental destruction dur- and the world. Loss of habitat, mostly from ing the Soviet era, but “While the focus has been on forest exploitation, fire, disease and inappropriate man- nuclear, air, and water pollution and, somewhat less, on agement is the most serious threat to the unique bio- the wanton waste of resources caused by inefficient diversity of climax forests. The survival of endangered production, scholars have largely ignored what may be species, such as the Siberian Tiger … depends on the the most significant environmental legacy from the maintenance of large, undisturbed forest areas. Frag- Soviet era, and what is Russia’s greatest legacy to the ile permafrost areas must be recognized as environ- planet: wilderness.” (page 29). mentally critical and the forests’ large contributions to Although the Russian Far East is well over the shoul- carbon sequestration must not be jeopardized. Such der of the world from , the unity of the taiga environmental considerations are currently inadequate- (so-called “boreal forest”) is evident by the similarity ly incorporated in the planning process or not properly of its animals and plants to those in Canada. We can addressed in forest management and harvesting activ- also see in this compendium disturbing similarities to ities. As a general requirement for attending to these the problems affecting the Canadian taiga (Pruitt and environmental concerns large forested areas must re- Baskin 2004; Schaefer 2003). Comparison of amelio- main undisturbed and forests outside protected areas rating efforts will be valuable. There are many places need appropriate and complementary management.” in Canada which should have copies of this valuable (page 32) compendium: Federal and Provincial departments of The Russian Far East has the endangered Siberian Conservation, Natural Resources, Forestry, Wildlife, Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) while Canada has the Aquatic Resources, Fisheries. All University libraries, endangered Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus the libraries of all ENGOs concerned with conservation caribou) (Pruitt and Baskin 2004; Schaefer 2003). Pages and sustainable use of renewable resources, anthropol- 35 Ð 39 also bring problems in the RFE directly home ogy and aboriginal activists, everyone teaching Field to Canada: “A major problem is the lack and loss of Biology, Ecology, Boreal Ecology, Resource Manage- field scientists and field workers because of dramatic ment, Forestry, Wildlife Management, Fisheries Man- cuts in government funding…” We can compare the agement or Sustainable Development course or seminar situation in the RFE with the massive cuts in scientif- should have access to a copy. ic staff of Canadian Wildlife Service, National Parks Canada, Canadian Meteorologial Service and the Cana- Literature Cited: dian Museum of Nature, beginning with the Mulroney Ehrenfeld, D. 1993. Beginning again (pages 65-72). Oxford, Oxford Conservatives and not restored by later governments. University Press. Pages xiv + 216. In Canada, the problem is compounded by the growing Futuyma, D. 1998. Wherefore and whither the naturalist? American infatuation of university biology, botany and zoology Naturalist 151(1): 1-6. Noss, R. F. 1998. Does conservation biology need natural history? departments with “computer models” or “keyboard Wild Earth 8: 10-14. ecology” instead of learning about real animals and Pruitt, W. O., Jr., and L. M. Baskin 2004. Boreal Forest of Canada and plants (Ehrenfeld 1993; Futuyma 1998; Noss 1998). Russia/Taiga of Canada and Russia. Bilingual, English and Russian, The book is almost overwhelming in its information: parallel texts. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia, Bulgaria, illustrated: 163 history of European invasions, lists (with comments) pages ISBN 954-642-199-5. of major species of plants and animals, lists of endan- Schaefer, J. 2003. Long-term range recession and the persistence of gered species (usually with comments regarding threats Caribou in the taiga. Conservation Biology 17(5): 1435-1439. to survival), lists of protected areas by type, size, date WILLIAM O. PRUITT,JR. of establishment, biodiversity hotspots, human econ- omy and environmental impact. Department of Zoology and Taiga Biological Station, Univer- The sections on Indigenous Peoples and their decline sity of , Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 Canada in numbers, relations and their problems with “modern”