Much of the world's boreal forests grow in northwestern Russia. They exist only in the northern hemisphere and play a major role in the world's climate because they absorb carbon dioxide. That’s why efforts are being made with international aid to protect them from logging and forest fires. <br />The primal forests covering much of the autonomous republic of Komi in northwestern Russia have been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1995. <br /><br />Fifteen percent of the republic's surface is under protection - but still threatened by illegal logging and forest fires.
