Mapping of forests and their use on the territories of Asian Russia
E.L. MAKARENKO
V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
Keywords: forest activities, forest management, forest resources, forest region, forest development zones, logging activities
Abstract
The relevance of the study is determined by the important role of forests and various activities carried out in forests in the overall economic development of the Asian part of Russia. It meets the objectives of the Strategy for the Development of the Forest Complex of Russia until 2030. Statistical, comparative-analytical, cartographic, and geoinformation research methods were used for the study. It was determined that the forested area of the study territory is large and constitutes 78,1 % of the similar area in the country. Small-scale forest mapping of the territory was carried out in terms of the development of activities, and sample maps were compiled reflecting the priority and degree of their development within the boundaries of economic zones of forest development. Some key forest indicators (stock and annual increment of timber per unit of forested area, the share of commercial forests), reflecting the potential for the development of logging activities, were mapped within the boundaries of 26 forest districts. It has been determined that the relatively low forest production and timber reserve formation indicators, as well as the intensity of forest management development, are due to the harsh forest growth conditions in most of the region’s taiga geosystems.
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