ABSTRACT
The Soviet Union covers one-sixth of the earth's land surface and ranks third in terms of population amongst the countries of the world. The tundra stretches from the north of the Soviet Union until it merges with the forest zone in the south. The forest zone stretches from the forest tundra in the north to the Steppe in the western parts of the Soviet Union or the actual southern border of the country in the east. In the more temperate parts of the forest steppe oak is the major broadleaved species - accounting for over half of the forests of the zone in the European part of the Soviet Union. The statistics regarding the forest resources of the Soviet Union are quoted in different ways at different times. The industries in the region are usually in the form of pulp and paper plants or sawmills which are sometimes combined with units for the production of panel products, furniture and packaging.
