Self-overgrowing and restoration of disturbed lands in oil fields in the North of Russia
L.P. KAPELKINA1, A.I. POPOV2
1Saint Petersburg Federal Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
2Arkhangelsk Research Institute of Agriculture, pos. Lugovoy, Russia
Keywords: Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Western Siberia, plant communities, reindeer pastures, adapted technologies, indigenous peoples
Abstract
The article presents information on disturbed lands in oil production areas in Western Siberia and Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The technogenic disturbances of the surface that occur during exploration and production of hydrocarbon raw materials were examined. The stages of restoration of the vegetation cover at geological exploration sites and in Nenets Autonomous Okrug were revealed. The analysis of primary successions of vegetation that arise after complete destruction of the soil and vegetation cover is given. It has been revealed that willow communities are formed at the studied geological exploration sites by plant succession. It has been established that in Western Siberia over a 25-year period, plant communities have been formed on bulk drilling sites that rise above the areas of disturbed swamps by 1-4 m that differ significantly from the vegetation of swamps. It has been concluded that the process of restoration of plant communities occurs by the way of formation of forest ecosystems; woody plants such as birches, pines, willows settle along with herbaceous plants. This is facilitated by the creation of favorable conditions for the growth of trees and shrubs in local areas due to embankments, an increase in the thickness of the root layer, and an improvement of the hydrothermal regime. Practical measures are proposed for the restoration of disturbed lands and the reduction of their negative impact on the environment. Various grass mixtures have been tested during restoration work. Promising plant species for sodding disturbed tundra areas in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug territory have been identified. The expediency of using wild species seeds, more resistant to local conditions, for sowing along with cultivated plants has been established. It is proposed to involve the indigenous population migrating across the tundra with herds of reindeer in collecting wild plant seeds and sowing plants in disturbed areas. For the first time, the feasibility of using small-sized (garden) equipment transported by helicopter for the restoration of hard-to-reach disturbed areas has been tested and proven. Technologies for the restoration of disturbed lands adapted to the conditions of the North are proposed.
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