Quantifying scarcity: deforestation in the Upper Volga region and early debates over climate change in nineteenth-century Russia |
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Authors: | Marina Loskutova |
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Institution: | 1. National Research University – Higher School of Economics , St Petersburg, Russia mvlosk@yandex.ru |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACT The paper examines the early history of environmental concerns in Russia. It focuses on a case study: the debates about a potentially detrimental impact of deforestation on water regimes, which took place in the 1830s–40s. It examines two sets of issues: the role of ideas about a growing scarcity of forest resources in Europe; and the actual state of forests in Russia that provided some evidentiary basis for these debates. It argues that these debates were possible at the convergence of several trends: an expanding role and objectives of the forest administration well-versed in European scientific debates of the age and at the same time a visible danger of deforestation in some regions of a strategic significance to the empire. The author also considers different expert cultures and evidentiary standards that could be observed during the debates. |
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Keywords: | Expert cultures evidentiary standards forests forest management climate hydrology Russia nineteenth century |
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