Fifty-three maps, many in color, depict the region's administrative districts, ecosystems, protected areas, mineral deposits, timber and fishing resources, and the lands of indigenous peoples. Eighty-seven tables, charts, and graphs present statistical and comparative data related to the individual essays in the book. And many spectacular photographs provide a sense of the land, people, plants and animals that make up the Russian Far East today.
The book is divided into eleven chapters. The first chapter deals with the RFE as a whole; each of the remaining chapters examines one of the ten administrative regions. All of the chapters are divided into identical sections to simplify comparison among the regions.
The Russian Far East (6.63 million sq. km, or roughly two-thirds the size of the US) sits strategically amidst the world's largest economies. The region's vital storehouse of oil and gas, timber, fish, and precious metals will inevitably be tapped as countries in the Pacific Rim, especially China, seek the resources necessary for long-term economic growth. But from the standpoint of environmental security, the ecosystems of the Russian Far East play a globally important role in mitigating climate change, in maintaining biological diversity, and in providing a reservoir of natural resources for future generations. The development challenge facing this relatively unknown region, therefore, is blending conservation needs with emerging economic interests.
