THE BOREAL FOREST, FIRE, AND THE GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEM - ACHIEVEMENTSAND NEEDS IN JOINT EAST-WEST BOREAL FIRE RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT

One of the first priority areas among joint East/West research program s is the rational use of natural resources and sustainable development of regions. In the boreal zone of North America and Eurasia, forests are economically very important, at the same time being highly vulnera ble to disturbances. Because of its size and ecological functions, the boreal forest and fire - its most dynamic disturbance factor - play a n important role in ecosystem processes at a global scale. This paper provides an overview on the role of boreal forest fires on ecosystems, atmosphere, and climate.