Vast and vital, the boreal forest stores CO2, hosts rich wildlife, but faces major threats.
Widely spread across the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, the boreal forest (or taiga) is the world's largest land biome.
Due to nutrient-poor soils and the long northern winter, which allows only a brief growing season, the tree layer is made up of frugal species, mainly conifers such as spruce, pine, and fir, accompanied by few hardy deciduous trees like birch and willow. This forest is home to a diverse fauna, including iconic mammals like moose, wolf, bear, lynx, as well as numerous resident and migratory birds.
The boreal forest plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate by absorbing and storing significant amounts of carbon dioxide. Forest and mining industries pose serious threats to this fragile environment, impacting both its biodiversity and its carbon sequestration capabilities. Sustainable management practices are essential to preserve the ecological integrity of the boreal forest and its vital contributions to the Earth.
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An aurora over the snowy boreal forest trees at the Chruchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, [...]
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Moor landscape with lake and cloudy sky, Knuthöjdsmossen, Sweden, Europe
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Boreal forest, Finland
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Autumnal forest floor, blueberries, norrbottens, norrbottens län, laponia, Lapland, Sweden, Europe
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River flowing through the boreal forest in Lapland Finland
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Forest floor in autumn, Ånderdalen National Park, Senja, Norway, Europe
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Primeval forest in the Laponia protected area, Gällivare, Norrbottens län, Sweden, Europe
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Early morning mist and autumn coloured trees on an island in Lac Bouchard Lake, La Mauricie [...]
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Small stream flows through autumnal forest, Sarek National Park, Laponia, Lapland, Sweden, Europe
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Mount Ernest-Laforce and snowy forest in Canada
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Morning ligths unlighting the Taiga Finland
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Valtavaara in winter, view from Rukatunturi Mountain, Valtavaara-Pyhävaara Nature Reserve, Kuusamo, [...]
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Landscape of Lapland in the snow Finland
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Bull Moose browsing its territory during the rut Quebec
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Bull Moose in the woods during the rut Gaspe Quebec Canada
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Calypso Orchid or Venus Slipper (Calypso bulbosa), Oulanka National Park, Finland, Europe
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Wakerobin blooming in boreal forests - Québec Canada [...]
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Mosses and seedlings in the boreal forest - Québec Canada
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Young Tengmalm's Owl or Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus), Finland, Europe
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Female (Ursus arctos) with offspring in boreal coniferous forest, young bear, baby, cute, [...]
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Ruffed grouse eating a bud - Quebec Canada [...]
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Two cubs (Ursus arctos) and their mother playing on a tree in a boreal coniferous forest, Bear [...]
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Wolverine (Gulo gulo) in the snow in the boreal forest
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Female (Ursus arctos) with young bear in a boreal coniferous forest on a lake shore, Suomussalmi, [...]
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Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus), Alaska, USA
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Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) flying, Alaska, USA
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Pine Grosbeak female feeding on Rowan tree berries Finland
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Red squirrel, Cap Breton Highlands National Park, American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), [...]
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American Red Squirrel on snow in winter - Quebec Canada
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Eurasian Elk sniffing the scent of a female Gaspesie park ; The male sniffs to see if the female is [...]
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Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), cock mating on snowfield in boreal coniferous forest, hen [...]
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Bohemian Waxwing eating berries in winter - Finland
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Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) looking for insects under the bark of a tree during a [...]
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Alaskan Moose (Alces alces gigas) males fighting, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
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Wolverine in a tree Scandinavia
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American Red Squirrel on a trunk - Jasper NP Canada
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Alaskan Moose (Alces alces gigas) males fighting, Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
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Grey wolf in wetlands in Eastern Finland
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Brown Bears (Ursus arctos), mother bear and cubs in the autumnally coloured taiga or boreal forest [...]
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A wolverine, Gulo gulo, standing on a dead log. Kuhmo, Oulu, Finland.
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Young Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) climbing a tree to protect the approach of a male, Finland
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Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus) resting in Fjellbirken forest, Norway, Scandinavia, Europe
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Snow covered mountain pines in a winter storm in Rukatunturi, Kuusamo, Lapland, Finland, Europe
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Sunset on Riisitunturi NP in winter Finland
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Trees covered in snow, winter landscape, Riisitunturi National Park, Posio, Lapland, Finland, Europe
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Great Gray Owl on a branch of birch Scandinavia
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Drone shot, boreal, arctic conifers, forest, moss, wetland, salla, Lappi, Finland, Finland, Europe
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Sunset in boreal, arctic forest, pink horizon, Kittilä, Lappi, Finland, Europe
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Aerial view, meandering river landscape in the Rapa Valley near Kebnekaise, Sarek National Park, [...]
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Landscape of Kamchatka seen from helicopter