| Summary: | The problem of preserving the ecological equilibrium is especially urgent in regions undergoing industrial development for the first time; this is particularly so in Western Siberia, which is virtually untouched by man, and which, unlike Central Russia, has not been changed by technical progress. The extreme character of natural conditions in the North (lack of warmth, abundance of moisture, limited growing season, heavy thawing action in permafrost soil upon exposure) makes them vulnerable to external influence. Consequently, the economic development of Western Siberia raises a number of economic and ecological problems, of which the most important are: the general use and preservation of natural resources, environmental protection, and the elaboration of economic development programs that take specific natural and climatic conditions into account.
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