Reference and rare soils of Fennoscandia Green belt

The backbone of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia is presented by multiple protected areas (PA) of various ranks. On the territory of Karelia such areas are represented by existing national parks: “Paanajärvi”, “Kalevala and “Ladoga Skerries”, Kostomukshsky National Nature Reserve and by othe regional protected areas. The soil cover in these areas is quite interesting as it comprises both reference (background) soils and rare or unique soil varieties. Climax soils, which predetermine the type of primary biogeocoenoses and have no traits of secondary transformation induced by changes of natural factors or by human impact are taken for reference. The reference soils in all surveyed protected areas are podzolic by nature, but their diversity and ratios differ among the PAs. The mentioned rare soil species are montane soils found in the Paanajärvi national park, as well as the relatively fertile podburs in the Ladoga Skerries national park.