BARK BEETLE SPECIES OF IPS GENUS POSING A THREAT TO RUSSIAN FORESTS

На основе литературных материалов и результатов собственных исследований авторов проанализированы короеды рода Ips. Отмечается, что в мировой фауне зарегистрировано 37 видов коро- едов данного рода, в том числе восемь распространено на территории Российской Федерации. короеды данного рода повреждают флоэму и камбий, как правило, у ослабленных и отмирающих деревьев. Не- редко они заселяют поваленные ветром деревья и неокоренную лесопродукцию. В то же время в экстре- мальные по погодным условиям годы или после стихийных бедствий (засуха, штормовой ветер и др.) численность короедов резко возрастает, и они приводят к гибели не только отдельные жизнеспособные деревья, но и древостои. кроме того, короеды являются переносчиками спор грибов, приводящих к де- струкции древесины. В работе приведен перечень видов короедов рода Ips, дано описание биологии не- которых видов и рекомендации по недопущению их распространения за пределы естественного ареала. Ключевые слова: короеды, Ips, биологические особенности, виды, карантин, вредоносность. Финансирование. Работа выполнена в рамках темы FEUG – 2020 – 0013 «Экологические аспекты рационального природопользования». Bark beetles of the Ips genus were analyzed on the barks of literature materials and the results of the authors own research. It is noted that 37 species of bark beetles of this genus have been recorded in the wored fauna, including 8 common on the territory of the Russian Federation. Bark beetles of this genus damage their cambium, as a rule in weakened and dying trees. Often they inhabit trees felled by the wind and forest product uncovered with bark. However, in extreme weather years or after natural disasters (drought, storm, wind and other) number of bark beetles increases shar ply and they this results in the death not only individual viable trees, but also the whole stand. In addition, bark beetles are carriers of fungal spores, leading to the destruction of wood. The work provides a list of bark beetles species of Ips genus, the description of the biology of some species is given, as well as recommendations for preventing their spreading outside the natural range.

Potential for the Development of Productive Activities of the Russian Penal System in the Context of Achieving National Goals Under the Paris Climate Agreement

One of the key tasks of the penal and correctional system is not only to socially isolate convicts and organize acceptable living conditions for them, but also to ensure their adequate resocialization after serving their sentence. The solution of this problem requires new approaches to the conduct of production activities by the institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia. Among others, priority should be given to the areas of traditional economic specialization of the penitentiary system, which include, for example, logging and woodworking. The national contribution of the Russian Federation to the implementation of the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement implies the fullest possible use of the carbon-absorbing capacity of Russian forests. This task is solved, among other things, by a significant increase in the volume of artificial reforestation, which requires the development of a network of tree nurseries throughout the country. The article analyzes in detail the experience of a joint pilot project on forest nursery creation based on one of the institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service with the participation of business association in the field of forest industry in Krasnoyarsk Krai. It is shown that the project is not only effective, but also has high indicators of economic efficiency, characterized by low payback period under the condition of ensuring decent working conditions for inmates. It emphasizes the importance of scientific and methodological support of the work performed by universities and research institutes, including within the program of creating world-class scientific and educational centers of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation

Russian forest sequesters substantially more carbon than previously reported

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and transition to a new forest inventory system, Russia has reported almost no change in growing stock (+ 1.8%) and biomass (+ 0.6%). Yet remote sensing products indicate increased vegetation productivity, tree cover and above-ground biomass. Here, we challenge these statistics with a combination of recent National Forest Inventory and remote sensing data to provide an alternative estimate of the growing stock of Russian forests and to assess the relative changes in post-Soviet Russia. Our estimate for the year 2014 is 111 ± 1.3 × 109 m3, or 39% higher than the value in the State Forest Register. Using the last Soviet Union report as a reference, Russian forests have accumulated 1163 × 106 m3 yr-1 of growing stock between 1988–2014, which balances the net forest stock losses in tropical countries. Our estimate of the growing stock of managed forests is 94.2 × 109 m3, which corresponds to sequestration of 354 Tg C yr-1 in live biomass over 1988–2014, or 47% higher than reported in the National Greenhouse Gases Inventory.

Generic Model of Willow Stem Volume: A Meta-Analysis

Current scenarios of the consequences of global warming stimulate research on the carbon-depositing capacity of vegetation cover. The stem is the main part of the tree biomass, and the accuracy of its volume assessment determines the possibility of correct monitoring and forecasting of forest resources. In the Russian forest management system, willow was not among the main forest-forming species, and therefore there was no need to develop valuation standards for it. However, due to the increased relevance of assessing the carbon-deposing function of Russian forests and the requirement to take into account the contribution to the carbon balance of all types of vegetation, there is a necessity to develop such standards. The solution can be found in the development of a generic model (or table) that takes into account the morphology of willows within the Salix L. genus and is based on data published in different regions and countries. The object of our research is data on the volume of willow stems, which is published and freely available in Russia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and Norway in the form of tables or regression models. However, the extent to which each local model is applicable in other regions is unknown. To resolve this uncertainty, we used meta-analysis as a statistical procedure that combines the results of several independent studies in order to find a common pattern. As a result, we obtained a generic model of stem volume for the Salix genus, which is characterized by a high coefficient of determination and can be applied to estimate the stem volume of any species of this genus with minimum deviations from the calculated values. The results of the work are aimed at improving the accuracy of accounting deciduous stands during forest management and monitoring activities, valuation of stands on permanent and temporary trial plots. The implementation of unified standards for the use, reproduction, conservation and protection of willow stands with all the diversity of its species will solve a number of practical issues. For citation: Usoltsev V.А., Paramonov А.А., Tretyakov S.V., Koptev S.V., Tsepordey I.S. Generic Model of Willow Stem Volume: A Meta-Analysis. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 3, pp. 49–58. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-3-49-58

ASSESSMENT OF DIRECT PYROGENIC CARBON EMISSIONS IN RUSSIAN FORESTS FOR 2020 USING REMOTE MONITORING DATA

The paper presents the results of assessing pyrogenic emissions of carbon compounds in Russian forests for 2020 using remote monitoring methods. The area of forests damaged by fires was 6.5 mln ha, whereas the amount of carbon emissions was 36.5 MtC. Although the total area of damage is higher than the average annual values, the amount of pyrogenic carbon emissions is lower than the average annual ones. In absolute terms, the year corresponds to 2016. We registered an increase in annual carbon emissions from fires since the abnormal 2012. A preliminary analysis of the entire observation period for fires suggests that 2021 may be the next abnormal year after the years of 2003 and 2012 in terms of forest fires and direct pyrogenic carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

New estimate of growing stock volume and carbon sequestration of Russian forests based on national forest inventory and remote sensing data

<p>Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and transition to a new forest inventory system, Russia has reported (FAO, 2014) almost no changes in growing stock (+1.8%) and biomass (+0.6%). Yet remote sensing products indicate increased vegetation productivity (Guay et al., 2014), tree cover (Song et al., 2018) and above-ground biomass (Liu et al., 2015). Here, we challenge the official national statistics with a combination of recent National Forest Inventory and remote sensing data products to provide an alternative estimate of the growing stock of Russian forests and assess the relative changes in the post-Soviet era. Our estimate for the year 2014 is 118.29±1.3 10<sup>9</sup> m<sup>3</sup>, which is 48% higher than the official value reported for the same year in the State Forest Register. The difference is explained by increased biomass density in forested areas (+39%) and larger forest area estimates (+9%). Using the last Soviet Union report (1988) as a reference, Russian forests have accumulated 1163×10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> yr<sup>-1</sup> of growing stock between 1988–2014, which compensates for forest growing stock losses in tropical countries (FAO FRA, 2015). Our estimate of the growing stock of managed forests is 94.2 10<sup>9</sup> m<sup>3</sup>, which corresponds to sequestration of 354 Tg C yr<sup>-1</sup> in live biomass over 1988–2014, or 47% higher than reported in the National Greenhouse Gases Inventory (National Inventory Report, 2020).</p><p>Acknowledgement: The research plots data collection was performed within the framework of the state assignment of the Center for Forest Ecology and Productivity of the Russian Academy of Sciences (no. АААА-А18-118052590019-7), and the ground data pre-processing were financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 19-77-30015).</p>

Assessment of the Contribution of Russian Forests to Climate Change Mitigation

Recent inclusion of the issue of economy decarbonization in the global agenda has been affecting social and political priorities. To lower greenhouse gas emissions, Russian economy has to reduce anthropogenic emissions and maximise the carbon sequestration potential of national forests. The paper demonstrates that Russian forest ecosystems compensate for more than a quarter (almost 27 %) of anthropogenic emissions. However, due to the absence of a reliable, time-tested forest inventory system in Russia, as opposed to leading countries, it is difficult to ensure the sustainable use of forest resources and full accounting of greenhouse gas absorption by forests. The research analyses systemic measures to improve the absorptive capacity of Russian forests as a key element of the mechanism for compensating industrial greenhouse gas emissions, since the global expert community should recognise the contribution of these forests to the global climate change mitigation. Potential economic benefits of increasing the carbon-absorbing capacity of forests are assessed at the regional level. The example of Irkutsk oblast shows that the calculated effect of the analysed measures can amount to 6–7 dollars/ha at the current price of carbon credits; full implementation of these measures in the region can bring up to 480 million US dollars annually, net of expenses. The research proposes to ensure the necessary quality and completeness of data of the State Forest Registry by integrating remote and ground-based field measurements. It is also suggested to enhance institutional and investment support to state forest conservation initiatives, including in the framework of the National Project “Ecology” and forest-climate projects based on public-private partnerships. These measures should be included in the reform of public policy in the field of forest management.

Using the Mechanisms of the Paris Climate Agreement for Conservation and Reforestation in the Russian Federation .

The problem of climate change is a global challenge of the XXI century for all mankind. However, despite the adoption of the Paris climate agreement, which is designed to synchronize the actions of various countries, individual countries or groups of countries are taking the path of obtaining unilateral preferences under the pretext of fulfilling the obligations stipulated in the agreement. The article analyzes the challenges and risks that Russia may face in the absence of its own greenhouse gas regulation systems against the background of the declared and implemented in a number of countries policy of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions. Ways to fully utilize the potential absorption capacity of Russian forests and other ecosystems in relation to the goals of the Paris climate agreement are considered. We are talking about potential effects for the Russian economy in the form of domestic investment in forest projects to absorb CO2, while increasing the competitiveness of Russian export products in the context of the introduction of protectionist measures by individual countries under the pretext of fighting for “climate neutrality”.