The cool temperate Continental climate is experienced only in the Northern hemisphere where the continents within the high latitudes have a broad east west spread. The Siberian climate is conspicuously absent in the southern hemisphere because of the narrowness of the southern continents in the high latitudes and the strong oceanic influence which reduces the severity of winter.

The predominant vegetation of this sub arctic type of climate is evergreen coniferous forest. The greatest single band of the coniferous forest is the Taiga in Siberia.

 The economic activity involving felling, hauling, logging of timber is known as lumbering. It is well developed in the coniferous forest belt of the cool temperate lands. The factors responsible for its development are:

• Homogeneous forests: Tree species in temperate region are more or less homogeneous. Single species overwhelmingly dominate in separate regions —that helps immensely to locate and extract the trees. Besides, absence of undergrowth, bush or epiphytes makes extraction much easier. Absence of branches and shorter tress are other favourable factors which make lumbering in temperate regions more lucrative. Example: Pine, fir, spruce – northern forests; Larch- warmer south
• Climate: Climate in temperate region is conducive to lumbering. As the temperature is cool and pleasant, workers can continue their activities longer without much tiredness.
• Easy transportation: As trees are un-branched, shorter and lighter, transportation is easier. Customarily, extraction is done during winter, when the labour is cheaper and woods remain in the frozen river beds. During summer, when rivers melt, logs are automatically transported to the sawmills—without much cost.
• Mechanization: For cutting and felling of the logs, machines are used instead of manual labour. In this way, productivity can be raised and cost of production can also be minimized.
• Cheaper power: Power—particularly hydro-electric power—is cheaper in this region —an incentive to sawmills.
• Steady -demand: Demand of soft conifer wood is increasing day by day. For the preparation of pulp in paper industry and cellulose for synthetic textile industry, demand of softwood is increasing faster.
• Development of Forest Management: Unlike tropical world —where forest is unpro­tected and unmanaged — temperate forest management is scientific and careful. Afforestation is done along with preventive measures against soil erosion and forest fire.
• Other products: Temperate forests provide ample products other than woods, Example: gums, fruits, oils etc. — these are making lumbering more, profitable. They are used for making wood pulp, paper, newsprint, synthetic fabric, and sports goods; packing boxes, match sticks, rayon manufacturing etc
• Ready market: The adjacent countries of temperate coniferous forest are, by and large, highly developed and industrially prosperous. Their purchasing power and great requirement of wood accelerated lumbering industry in this part of the globe. Finland, Sweden, Norway, U.S.A. and Canada earn sizeable revenue to their national exchequer from export of lumbering products.
• Government policies: Governments are playing crucial role to increase environmen­tal awareness through proper forest management and also giving assistance to forest research projects. Example: US leads in wood pulp while Canada tops in newsprint

Conclusion:

Nearly 80% of lumbering products are obtained from temperate coniferous forest spread over North America and Europe. Here, lumbering industry is integrated, coordinated, well-organized and well-managed. The scale of operation and number of people involved in this industry is massive. Various geographical, socio-economic and cultural factors have contributed significantly for its origin and development.