SHORT-TERM RESTORATIVE SUCCESSIONS IN SPRUCE FORESTS OF SOUTH URALS

Abstract

Forests roles in the biosphere include moderating the consequences of global warming. That is why forests conservation and remediation is now one of the most important tasks. The objective of the present study is to assess vegetation dynamics in the course of short-term restorative successions in the type of forests that dominates in South Urals, that is in short-grass green-moss spruce forests growing on the lower parts of glacises having thick drained brown mountain-forests type soils. The methodology of the study is based on forest typology suggested by Ye.M. Filrode. The results of our long-term studies are generalized. A high level of transformation of forest vegetation has been found. After dense lumbering, tree stands of all age classes comprise Siberian spruces and firs of the pre-lumbering origins. Short-term secondary birch woods feature the most dynamic composition compared to that of other secondary forests. The restoration of the predominance spruce and fir stands in the place of birch woods becomes complete in tree stands reaching the ages of 60-68 years. The rate of restoration of dark coniferous forests are much higher in comparison with those of long-term secondary birch woods. Upon the development of the latter, the restoration of dark coniferous forests lasts for more than 120 years. These results are important for dark coniferous forests restoration and for organization of sustainable forest management in mountain dark coniferous forests of South Urals.