Cartographic estimation of tree parameter dynamics in Russian northwest regions

• Published in: Forest science issues
• Main Authors: S.V. Knyazeva, S.P. Eydlina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; Russian
• Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, Center for Forest Ecology and Productivity 2018
• Subjects: сondition of tree plants; regular network; points of constant observation; assessment of crown condition; dominant species; damage and diseases of trees; Forestry; SD1-669.5; Murmansk; karelian; Republic of Karelia; taiga
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.31509/2658-607x-2018-1-1-1-33; https://doaj.org/article/482089b632304c5f81f444fb197256d9

The article deals with the analysis of spatial and temporal dynamics of forest condition parameters in Russian Northwest regions over the 2008-2010. Main assessed parameters were defoliation, discoloration, crown condition category and percentage of crown damage on observation plots of ground-based regular monitoring network organized according to the ICP Forests international program. An assessment was carried out by means of geoinformation mapping and of the spatial analysis taking into account landscape, climatic conditions and man-made influence. It has been analyzed parameters on 710 plots from six Russian regions: Leningrad, Pskov, Novgorod, Kaliningrad, Murmansk and the Republic of Karelia. The most informative parameters were defoliation and the percentage of crown damages. The trees showed higher defoliation in the coniferous forests which formed on lake-glacial lowland plains and on high platform plains (Precambrian shields and ridges with glacial treatment) in the Republic of Karelia and in the Leningrad Region (Karelian isthmus). The proportion of damaged trees increased from 23% in 2008 to 39% in 2010. The maximum values of this parameter (over 80%) for the entire period were observed in 4 regions: the Republic of Karelia, Leningrad (mainly on the Karelian isthmus), Murmansk and Kaliningrad regions. The most dangerous causes of tree damages prevailed in the Leningrad region and in Republic of Karelia. Trees affected by diseases were 30% in the north taiga, 24% in the middle taiga and 19% in the south taiga. The most damaged trees were on sand landscapes and on Precambrian shields and ridges with glacial treatment. In general, according to the results of the cartographic analysis of monitoring data for the period from 2008 to 2010, the Karelian Isthmus (Leningrad Region) can be distinguished, in which middle-taiga forests are characterized by consistently the worst average values of the state of tree plants throughout the ICP Forests network.