Scientific publications

The main tasks of the study were to: identify the categories of the most vulnerable forest communities; make their comprehensive description, ecological and economic assessment; work out recommendations on minimizing the negative effects of industrial-scope activities in these forests. Surveys were carried out on the western part of Russia’s northern and middle taiga subzones. The original classification and landscape map of the region based on the zonaltypological approach served as the baseline. All landscape types established for the region were analyzed, and five types where forests are the most vulnerable to human impact were identified. They are all situated within the northern taiga subzone. For each of these landscape types the qualitative and quantitative dimensions of the following parameters were shown: 1) the spectrum, quantitative ratio and spatial arrangement of forest types, taking into account the extent and configuration of open mires; 2) stocking density and productivity; 3) economic expediency of logging with regard to standing stock; 4) specific features of post-logging natural reforestation; 5) potential modification of the soil cover condition by mechanized logging; 6) paludification rate change upon removal of woody vegetation, or the probability of acceleration of this natural process and making it irreversible. The probability of a detrimental effect of logging on microclimatic conditions (wind and temperature regime) was also taken into account. The authors believe the
experience of identifying the most vulnerable forests in Northwest Russia using the landscape approach can be applied to any region in the boreal zone. These forests should be recommended for exclusion from logging plans (current allowable cut) throughout and should be given the ‘special protective’ forest status (like subtundra forests).