The Green Belt of Fennoscandia (GBF) is the Russian-Finnish-Norwegian border region with forest areas and mire massifs almost unaffected by human activity. In the early 1990s, the concept of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia was put forward as a result of joint work of researchers and experts in Fennoscandia and discussion of sustainable development principles for border regions. Its main aim was to have public interests united in the fields of economic development and nature conservation. The cores of the GBF are protected areas (PAs), of federal and regional status, and ecologically connected with the Pan-European Ecological Network (Natura 2000) as well as with Norwegian PAs.

При обследовании территории Карелии, а также ревизии сборов, хранящихся в гербари�ях Карельского научного центра РАН, г. Петро�заводск (PTZ), и Хельсинкского университета (Н), были выявлены таксоны сосудистых расте�ний, которые ранее для республики не указы�вались. Ниже приводится аннотированный список таких таксонов с цитированием этикет�ки и указанием места хранения образца. Для большинства видов пункты сбора являются наиболее северными в европейской части Рос�сии. Четыре вида являются аборигенными, семь – занесенные непреднамеренно или «бег�лецы» из культуры.

Comprehensive description and ecological assessment of the central part of the West Karelian upland is provided. This area, together with adjacent operating and planned PAs, is the core of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia. It is situated within the most typical Fennoscandian north taiga landscape. The largest in western Eurasia continent of pristine taiga has survived there, surrounded on all sides by forests at various stages of anthropogenic succession (after clear cutting). The physiographic features of the territory, state of its flora and fauna are considered in detail, and changes in them induced by human impact are partially assessed. Eventually, we substantiate foundation of nature reserves in the area with regard to the developing PA system of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia and Karelia in general. Arguments are given for utilization of the area as a polygon for ecological landscape planning of multipurpose nature use.

Presence/absence of red listed vascular plant species in existing and planned PAs of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia within Karelia was analysed. The PAs were found to harbour 143 vascular plants of the 199 species protected in the republic. The number of the species in different PAs varies from 3 (Voinitsa reserve) to 78 (planned Ladoga Skerries National Park). Of the 20 species listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and occurring in Karelia, 10 are present in existing PAs in the Green Belt of Fennoscandia.

The paper dwells upon existing variants of natural zoning of Karelia and Fennoscandia. Borders of subzones, second order belts, geobotanical sectors in Karelia are considered. Zonal affiliation of the northern Ladoga area is discussed, and it is stressed that there are no biogeographical arguments for including it in southern taiga. Analysis of existing variants of natural zoning and the current situation along the Russian Finnish border shows geobotanical zoning schemes can, after certain correction and detailing, be used as the basis for differentiation of the plant cover [Раменская, Шубин, 1975: Геоботаническое.., 1989; Юрковская, 2000]. Geobotanical sectors along the border are characterized.

Information is provided on the distribution of 199 regionally red-listed vascular plants by floristic districts (biogeographic provinces). 86 species (43.2 %) occur only in districts belonging to the mid-taiga subzone, 48 species (24.1 %) to the north-taiga subzone. The greatest number (14) of the species from the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (20) are known from the northern Ladoga district (KI).

Information is given about revisions concerning red-listed vascular plants in the new edition of the Red Data Book of Republic of Karelia [2007]. Twenty four species were removed from the former list [Red Data Book of Karelia, 1995], and 18 species were added to the new one. The reasons for the changes are analysed. Distribution maps for the newly listed species are provided.

Data on protected vascular plants in the Paanajarvi NP are presented. The park was found to shelter 152 species protected in various parts of East Fennoscandia: Karelia, Murmansk region and Finland, and listed in the Red Data Books of the regions. This number constitutes 1/3 of the park's aboriginal flora. Nine of the protected species are included in the Red Data Book of the Russianм Federation, 73 of Karelia, 86 of the Murmansk regions, 49 of Finland. 45 (22%) of the 205 species listed in the Red Data Book of Karelia do not occur in any other protected area of the republic, which testifies to the importance of the park in the conservation of the floral diversity of Karelia and East Fennoscandia at large.