ABSTRACT
The temperate landscape on earth is believed to have developed millions of years ago during Pleistocene ice ages. At present, about 1.0 billion ha of temperate forests and 1.4 billion ha of boreal zones contribute to the overall global forest cover estimated at 4.2 billion ha. The temperate forests occur in eastern North America, western and central Europe and north eastern Asia. The boreal (or Taiga') forests, which represent one of the largest terrestrial biomes occur between 50° and 60° N latitudes. These boreal zones are found in North America, Eurasia, Siberia, Scandinavia, and are predominant in Alaska and Canada.
