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According to the data of the State Forest Registry and the archive materials of the State Forest Fund Account carbon budget of the forests of federal districts (FDs) of Russia was calculated for the years 1988–2015. The total carbon pool of the forested lands of Russia amounted to 123.77±18.93 Gt C as of 01.01.2015. The biggest contribution to the national forest carbon pool was made by Siberian (36.4%) and the Far Eastern (35.2%) FDs followed by the Northwestern (11.3%), Ural (9.3%), Volga (4.4%), the Central (2.8%), North Caucasian (0.3%) and the Southern (0.2%) FDs. Contribution to the national forest carbon sink (206.10±66.86 Mt C yr -1) by districts: the Siberian district 39.3%, the Far Eastern 15.1%, the Northwestern 12.4%, Volga 12.1%, Ural 11.0%, and the Central 8.8%. Two groups of districts stand out in terms of the average value of forest carbon sink: 1) with 0.64–0.85 t С ha-1 year-1 (the Central, the Southern, North Caucasian, Volga FDs), 2) with 0.11–0.33 t C ha-1 year-1 (the Northwestern, Ural, Siberian, the Far Eastern FDs). The magnitude of the carbon sink in the forests of the FDs was at its lowest in 1988–1993. The reduction of losses due to felling in 1993–2000 resulted in increased carbon sink in the majority of federal districts. According to the level of this increase the forests of FDs can be divided into 2 groups: 1) with a significant increase in carbon sink (by 86% and more) – the Northwestern, Ural, Siberian, the Far Eastern FDs; 2) with a moderate increase in carbon sink (by 4–46%) in the Central, the Southern, North Caucasian and Volga FDs.

The calculations of forest carbon budget of federal districts (FD) of Russia is performed using data of State forest registry and archive materials of state forest fund accounts. Total carbon reserves on forested lands of Russia at 01.01.2015 were 123.77±18.93 Gt C. The input to national forest carbon reserves were maximal in Siberian (36.4%) and Far East (35.2) FD. The next were North-West (11.3%), Ural (9.3%), Volga (4.4%), Central (2.8%), North-Caucasian (0.3%) and South (0.2%) FD. Inputs to national forest carbon sink (206.10±66.86 Mt C year-1) were by FD: Siberian 39.3%, Far East 15.1%, North-West 12.4%, Volga 12.1%, Ural 11.0%, Central 8.8%. Two groups of FD can be selected based on average carbon sink value: 1) with range 0.64-0.85 t C ha-1 year-1 (Central, South, North-Caucasian, Volga), 2) with range 0.11-0.33 t C ha-1 year-1 (North-West, Ural, Siberian, Far East). Carbon sink to forest of all FD was minimal in 1988-1993. The decrease of carbon losses with felling in 1993-2000 led to increase of carbon sink in majority of FD. FD can be subdivided by value of carbon sink increase on 2 groups: 1) with considerable increase (more then 86%) including North-West, Ural, Siberian, Far East; 2) with moderate increase (4-46%) including Central, South, North-Caucasian, Volga.

Regional Evaluation of Carbon Budget of Forests (RECBF), was used to study the dynamics of carbon balance in Russian forests in 1988–2015. The carbon sink (excess of absorption over losses) to forests was minimal in 1988. Since the first half of the 1990s, its increase has started. This increase was associated with the reduction of logging volume in connection with socioeconomic reforms. Since 2008, the carbon sink was gradually reduced due to increasing losses in logging operations, forest fires, and decreased carbon absorption.

The results of 16-year instrumental monitoring (1996–2011) of the state of permafrost, soils, and vegetation influenced by environmental factors in the shrub tundra subzone of northeastern European Russia (Bol’shezemel’skaya Tundra) are described. The field measurement data for CO2 fluxes in 1996 and 1998–1999 have been used to construct regression equations and to simulate intraanual carbon fluxes with a step of 3 h. Over the observation period, the average annual and summer air temperatures have been considerably elevated relative to the local climate norms as of a climatically stable period of 1980–1996. According to our instrumental observations, the average winter and annual temperatures, total number of positive degree days, the input of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and average seasonal soil moisture increased during the next period (1996–2011). Correspondingly, the average annual depth of seasonal soil thawing, and seasonal maximum of vascular leaf phytomass stock also increased considerably. According to the model, the net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) increased from an equilibrium state in 1996–2002 to a considerable elevation in the carbon stock in 1998–2011. Thus, the total stock over the 16-year period amounted to 109 g C m−2. An independent confirmation of the effect assumed by the model is an increase in the aboveground stocks of the live and dead organic matter in ecosystem. A statistical analysis of the model has demonstrated that, in addition to an increase in PAR and temperature, acting over the long-term period in the observed range in a mode of mutual compensation relative to NEE, the main reason underlying the observed increase in long-term carbon stock is the amount of vascular plant leaf stock, which has emerged as a major predictor for NEE and, correspondingly, acts as an independent parameter of the carbon balance. This increase is most likely determined by an increase in soil moisture.