Over 10,000 kilometers east of Moscow, beyond Siberia, lies the Taiga of Russia's Far East. Sandwiched between the warm Sea of Japan and the frozen north, the Taiga is an ecological melting pot where Arctic wildlife meets Asian. Valuable old growth trees such as Manchurian Oak and Korean Pine are the key to this ecosystem, which is home to hundreds of rare species, including the last Siberian, or Amur, tigers. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 ushered in a period of political and economic disarray that has taken a severe toll on the natural resources of Russia's Far East. The enforcement of wildlife protection was largely abandoned, and the cash-strapped Russian government raised money by selling off large tracts of Siberian forest to logging companies. In addition, the lack of employment opportunities has led to an increase in illegal logging and poaching activities. As the accessible timber is becoming depleted, pressure is increasing to open up the last areas of untouched Taiga.

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For more information on this program, and to inquire about purchasing the film, please visit the Earth Report site.

Learn more about the conservation of Siberian (Amur) Tigers.

Read about world-wide Events that are taking place to help support the tigers.

Find out how Greenpeace is Protecting Ancient Forests and discover how forest-friendly your home is at Foresthouse.