[4][5] The area is characterized by high biodiversity because of the relatively mild climate, transition-zone placement, and island location.

Snow falling on the evergreen bamboo thickets in winter insulate the understory, which is relatively empty but abounding in shrews, mice and other rodents.

These animals also thrive in the high-growth thickets, typified by white clover and "Sakhalin buckwheat" (Reynoutria sachalinensis).

[6] Although plant communities are favorable to rodents, a noteworthy feature of the animal life in the southern Kuriles is the predominance of predator species, such as fox, sable, and bear, which have had to develop broader sources of food, particular marine sources on the coasts.

[6] Notable protected areas of the Russian Federation in the ecoregion include: This is an IUCN class Ia "strict ecological reserves" (Zapovednik).