Forest industry complex development in Russian Federation regions

The study found that the existing potential of the timber industry complex is not used effectively enough, as evidenced by the low level of wood processing, the development of only 50 % of the declared annual allowable cutting rate, insufficient use of modern technologies for processing wood raw materials, as well as reforestation. The consequence of this is the low share of the timber industry complex in the total volume of production in the regions. Based on the cluster method, the regions of the Russian Federation were grouped in 2010–2019 according to indicators reflecting the availability of resources (forest cover of the territory and the total stock of wood) and the level of their use (the share of the type of economic activity in the total volume of production in the region). The analysis carried out and the results obtained on this basis made it possible to identify the most successful practices for realizing the potential of the timber industry complex, as well as possible directions for the development of the forest industry in the regions of the Russian Federation.

Ipid bark beetle population assessment and threats to weaken pine stands in Central Russia

The data on the ipid bark beetle population growth in pine plantations of Central Russia in 2020 was recorded. The formation of favorable weather conditions for the development of this depredator in some regions was recorded, which greatly influenced the successful development of the insect population in plantations, in particular in the Pskov, Vladimir, Moscow, Bryansk, Lipetsk, and Ryazan regions. In some areas, a medium and low spread of the bark beetle was revealed. The influence of meteorological conditions on the flight activity of the insect and the probability of the mass reproduction foci formation under the 2020 weather conditions were analyzed. The results of the study formed the basis for the forecast preparation of the sanitary and forest health state. It is recommended to use the materials of the article to determine the optimal period for carrying out measures to protect pine plantations from the ipid bark beetle.

Functional zoning of the Sanarsky State Nature Complex Reserve of the Chelyabinsk region by the method of decoding aerial photographs

The article provides data on the Sanarsky nature reserve in the Chelyabinsk region. A map-diagram for the functional zoning of the reserve is proposed. It provides the information on the negative factors affecting the reserve such as forest fires, commercial and hobby hunting, the Chelyabinsk — Magnitogorsk motorway which divides the territory of the reserve into two parts. The analysis of the probable habitat of 10 vertebrate species has been carried out. The article presents a biological description and ecology features of animals listed in the Red Book and living on the territory of the reserve, including one species of amphibians — Siberian salamander (Salamandrella keyserlingii Dybowski, 1870), one species of snakes of the genus Copperheads, the family of snakes — smooth snake (Coronella austriaca Laurenti, 1768), four species of birds, two of the hawk family — the Pale Harrier (Circus macrourus SG Gmelin, 1770) and the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca Savigny, 1809), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos L., 1758) — the largest eagle and the Owl (Bubo bubo L., 1758) from the owl family; two species from the order bats — Brandt’s Moth (Myotis brandtii Eversmann, 1845) and Woodbat (Pipistrellus nathusii Keyserling & Blasius, 1839); one species of the Lagomorph family — the Steppe pika (Ochotona pusilla) and one species from the Jerboa family — the Great Jerboa (Allactaga major Kerr, 1792). It has been established that within the reserve three functional zones can be distinguished such as a recreation zone, an economic zone, a specially protected zone. On this basis, a map-diagram of the functional zoning of the Sanarsky State Natural Complex Reserve has been developed.

Sanitary and forest health monitoring of forested area in Kaliningrad region

The data on the sanitary and forest health of monitoring of the forested area in the Kaliningrad region are presented. The influence of the main factors on the sanitary and forest health of plantations for the period from 2017 to 2019 is considered, considering forest fires, unfavorable weather and soil-climatic conditions, the foci of pests and diseases, as well as anthropogenic and non-pathogenic factors. Their threat to forest plantations is analyzed. The main reasons for the forest plantations death in the Kaliningrad region are highlighted, they are negative weather and soil-climatic conditions (65 % of the total damaged area) as well as diseases. The study results of the forested areas with the established weakening and dying, the distribution of foci of pests and diseases are presented. The main insect pest, i.e. typographer bark beetle (Ips typographus), has been determined. The absence of insects as forest pests, listed in the Red Data Books of the Russian Federation and the Kaliningrad Region, and classified as quarantine pests, was recorded. The impact of negative factors causing the weakening (drying out) of forest plantations in the Kaliningrad region has been analyzed, it is recommended to conduct forest health monitoring, sanitary and recreational activities, perform reclamation work, strengthen control over the timing and quality of forest protection measures, and sanitary cuttings in particular, by the authority executive power of the subject and its subordinate institutions.

Bark beetles (Scolytinae) monitoring in national reserve «Kivach» forest cenosis by domestically produced pheromone traps

Hereafter, the results on the comparative analysis of Pityogenes chalcographus and Ips typographus monitoring by the use of pheromone traps are represented. The field trial was conducted within four different forest cenosis of the national reserve area «Kivach». The barrier funnel shaped traps with a lure attracting the bark beetle Pityogenes chalcographus and Ips typographus produced by FGBU «VNIIKR» were used for the pest monitoring in the four different cenosis. The results suggest that there is a positive correlation between the caught pest number and the type of a cenosis where the pheromone traps were installed.

Conversion of little value forest stands in Republic of Belarus: their state and problems

The article provides data on the assessment of the state of broad-leaved forest crops created during the reconstruction of low-value forest stands in the forest fund. The effectiveness of various methods of reconstruction of measures depending on the share of broad-leaved species in the composition of forest crops is analyzed. It was found that during the period 2006–2018 reconstruction was carried out on an area of 3628 hectares in the Republic of Belarus using corridor (69 %), curtin-group (22 %) and continuous (9 %) methods. It is shown that the average survival rate of forest crops in the continuous reconstruction method was 84, corridor — 71 %, and preservation, respectively, — 61 and 63 %. The sub-topological forest crops created during the curtin-group reconstruction had an unsatisfactory condition (average survival and preservation — 40 %). It is recommended when creating broadleaf forest crops during the reconstruction of low-value forest stands to take into account their age, composition, forest growing conditions, as well as the biogroup placement of plantings, which ensures faster closing of crops in rows, and contributes to their favorable growth and formation, and to create an optimal width of corridors 4...6 meters, which will ensure uniform and sufficient distribution of light in forest crops.

Natural regeneration of European Larch outside natural area with minimum of seed trees

The study of dissemination and success of natural regeneration of European larch outside its growing area, with a minimum supply of seed plants, is presented. It was analyzed that the success of natural regeneration of larch is affected by the absence of air sacs in pollen grains, this limits their dispersion at close distances and reduces the quality of seeds of the species, due to unsatisfactory pollination, more than fifty percent are dissimilar. It was found that the distance of maximum dissemination of European larch reaches 112–114 m. The undergrowth and self-seeding of European larch was represented by different height gradations. Half (49 %) of the recorded plants represent a gradation from 2 m and more, 36,5 % up to 1 meter in height, which indicates that the process of formation of the young generation of European larch can last up to 10 years, subject to the necessary conditions (good mineralized soil). Biometric measurements show that the leading position in height is occupied by birch, and the leader among conifers in height in height is Scotch pine. The dynamics of the annual growth of European larch until 2017 has a positive trend, after which it gradually decreases, from 38,6 cm to 24,7 cm in 2020, which is caused by the lack of silvicultural care, as well as the process of the emergence of new individuals of self-seeding, which is 23,5 % of accounted plants. In general, the natural regeneration of European larch and Scots pine under conditions of simple fresh subores (B2) has a higher growth energy than that of forest crops and undergrowth of European spruce.

Assessment of soil compacted state in forest road costruction

The issue of soil compacted state forecasting during the construction of a forest road is considered. The mechanical system formation of contacting particles of the compacted soil are given and substantiated. A model of compaction of a loose soil layer in the system "compaction device - compacted material" has been developed. A new compartment approach in this field of applied research was used, within which the system under study is subdivided into interconnected units, called compartments, the content of a certain substance in each of them is a separate variable of the system. Various technological situations are analyzed with the minimum and maximum allowable boom outreach of the excavator. The modeling of the effect of porosity on the soil layer thickness during its compaction, denser packing of particles and the appearance of residual (irreversible) deformations has been carried out. A method for determining the relationship between the degree of soil compaction and changes in its porosity and deformations has been developed. The complexity of the theoretical study of the compacted soil is substantiated. The practical significance of the developed model of soil layer compaction and the methodology for assessing its deformations has been confirmed with successful implementation at the design and monitoring stages of the construction of a pilot section of a forest road located in the Republic of Karelia on the basis of Petrozavodsk State University.

Protective forest plantations and treatment methods influence on agrophysical properties of chestnut soil and agricultural yield

The article presents the results of many years research on the complex effect of basic tillage and shelterbelts methods on the content of macroelements in the soil, the conditions of water supply and the formation of the spring barley yield on zonal light-chestnut soils.

Berry crop productivity assessment in Seltinsky and Vavozhsky forestries in Udmurt Republic

The study of berry crops was carried out on the territory of forest areas located in the southern taiga forests in the European part of the Russian Federation, in the taiga zone and in the area of coniferous-broadleaved (mixed) forests of the European part of the Russian Federation as well as in the zone of coniferous-broadleaved forests. By establishing circular plots in the prevailing types of forest, the dominant berry crops were determined such as cranberries (Vaccinium vítis-idaéa L.), blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) and wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca L.). The dependence of their yield on the age and the stand density was revealed. The biological, commercial and economic reserves of berry resources are calculated. It is established that there are sufficient volumes for harvesting berries in the studied forest areas. Recommendations on the rational and sustainable use of these resources are given.