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The Biosphere Reserve is located on the eastern side of the Western-Karelian Upland. Ultimate absolute elevation marks vary from 250 to 290 m above sea level. The terrain is rugged, and relative elevation varies from 20 to 100 m. The Biosphere Reserve displays a wide range of typical and unique north-taiga ecosystems. Forests which have never been clear-cut are well-managed. Lower-intensity selective cutting covered only river banks, lake shores and the nearest surroundings of old villages. This is demonstrative for northern Europe, where few extensive forests have survived. The BR is located in one of such forests covering about 300 thousand ha. It will thus be Fennoscandia’s largest biosphere reserve and Europe’s westernmost reserve with well-preserved primeval pine taiga forests of well-defined pyrogenic genesis. The reserve also exhibits the peat bog and freshwater White Sea ecosystems typical of north taiga. The Biosphere Reserve is home to over 1200 animal species. Mammal fauna shows typical north-taiga features. The common animals of the subzone, are squirrel, marten, wolverine, brown bear and forest reindeer. They form a comparatively large population because their biotopes are well-preserved. Bird fauna displays a typical north-taiga pattern: northern species make up 39%, while species of southern origin account for only 21% of nesting birds. The total bird population density is 179 couples/sq.km – an average index for north taiga. Fortunately, the nesting grounds are exactly in the centre of the White Sea-Bothnia watershed. A high taiga bird species diversity is due to the high conservation quality of aboriginal ecosystems. Increased nesting density indicators have been revealed here for majority of taiga aborigines such as brambling, rustic bunting, parrot crossbill, waxwing, gray-headed chickadee, Siberian jay, three-toed woodpecker, black woodpecker, boreal owl, great gray owl, golden-eye, whooper swan, bean goose, black-throated diver, lesser black-backed gull, etc.