taiga

The taiga, also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by long, cold winters, short, cool summers, and a pervasive layer of coniferous trees. It encircles the northern hemisphere, spanning large parts of North America (Canada, Alaska, Greenland) and Eurasia (Scandinavia, Russia, and parts of Central Asia). It forms a belt between the tundra to the north and temperate forests to the south and covers extensive boreal regions of Eurasia and North America.

Flora and fauna: Vegetation is dominated by evergreen conifers such as spruce, pine, fir, and larch, with mosses, lichens, and hardy shrubs in the understory. In southern areas, deciduous trees like birch and aspen appear. Soils are typically acidic and nutrient-poor, often with a seasonal active layer above permafrost in the coldest zones. Wildlife includes large herbivores such as moose and reindeer (caribou), predators like wolves and brown bears, and a variety of birds and insects adapted to the short, productive summers.

Ecology and climate change: Fire and insect outbreaks are natural disturbances that influence stand dynamics. The taiga is sensitive to warming; thawing permafrost, altered moisture regimes, and increased fire frequency threaten its extent and the composition of species communities, potentially enabling shifts toward temperate forest types in some regions.

Human use and conservation: The taiga supports timber, pulp, mining, and other industries, alongside Indigenous peoples and traditional subsistence practices. Conservation areas and sustainable management aim to balance resource use with biodiversity protection, though logging pressures and climate change present ongoing challenges.