The Future:

St. Basil's Chapel, Moscow, 2006

The Woods Hole Research Center believes that science and conservation has reached a turning point towards a stronger understanding of the need for sound data pertaining to the forests of Russia. Efforts underway across the globe through organizations like IIASA, Pacific Environment, and NASA are beginning to focus on Russia’s vast network of ecosystems, and how each plays a role in global biogeochemical cycling.     Private foundations are beginning to see past the cold-war era of mistrust and misconception and are now developing programs aimed at preserving species diversity in some of the most threatened regions of Russia.   The Woods Hole Research Center has played an active part in promoting Russia as the next essential step in understanding Global Climate Change.  

The Kremlin, Moscow, 2006

Through collaboration with Russian Scholars, we have opened the door a little wider between our two countries, creating dialogue, exchanging ideas, and nurturing a mutualistic relationship that we hope can carry into our politics as well.  Although there remain great hurdles to overcome, we believe that our efforts within Russia will rival if not surpass those taking place within the Amazon Basin.   We hope that other international organization will begin to develop collaborative relationships with Russia and ourselves to promote a sound science and conservation management initiative.   The need has always been there, however the political and economic stability has not.   Presented within these pages are a sample of the projects that The Woods Hole Research Center has taken part in and are currently involved with since its inception in 1985.   

©Woods Hole Research Center, 2007