Earth observations from satellites as a unique instrument to monitor Russia’s forests

Natural resources are a major source of wealth of Russia and a guarantee of its prosperity and special role in the world. In addition, we should not forget that they refer not only to mineral deposits but also to the great diversity of bioresources. The vast territory and a large number of ecosystems not only distinguish Russia among other countries but also lay a great responsibility on it to maintain the sustainability of the biosphere at the national, regional, and planetary levels. The problem of forestland protection, which is especially urgent because of its importance for biospheric interrelations and, consequently, for the survival of humanity, is hard to overestimate.