Taiga Landscape Degradation Evidenced by Indigenous Observations and Remote Sensing

Siberian taiga is subject to intensive logging and natural resource exploitation, which promote the proliferation of informal roads: trails unsurfaced service roads neither recognized nor maintained by government. While transportation development can improve connectivity between communities urban centers, new also interfere with Indigenous subsistence activities. This study quantifies Land-Cover Land-Use Change (LCLUC) in Irkutsk Oblast, northwest Lake Baikal. Observations from LCLUC are used spatial autocorrelation analysis identify examine major drivers transformations social–ecological–technological systems. Spatial results informed interviews local residents Evenki, history, modern industrial political actors. A comparison relative changes observed within outside Evenki-administered lands (obshchina) was conducted. The illustrate: (1) most persistent related change coniferous peatland (over 4% decadal change); however, during last decade, extractive infrastructure have become driver leading conversion 10% forest into barren land; (2) anthropogenic-driven area obshchina three times higher than the980s 1990s more 1.5 following decades.