A meeting on the issue of urban forests stare under conditions of climate change was held in SPbFRI

A meeting, devoted to the problems of research development in the field of monitoring the state of urban plantations in the context of climate change, was held within the All-Russian Climate Week in  SPbFRI.

The problem of climate change, despite its global level, has clearly expressed regional aspects that must be taken into account when developing systems of measures in various sectors of the economy.

Climate change in urban environment can have many adverse consequences for human well-being and its environment, including through changing the state of urban forests.

The current climatic norm of the average annual temperature of St. Petersburg is 3.8-5.6 °C, and the average annual rainfall is 653 mm. However, according to official data, it can be stated that already in the foreseeable future, the average annual temperature in the city will increase by 0.7 ° C, and by the end of the century it may rise to 9.4 ° C. According to the estimated values, the amount of precipitation will also increase, which average annual amount may raise by 262 mm by the end of the century.

During the meeting, the Institute staff discussed the use of the  SPbFRI arboretum as a model object for the research development in the part of studying the effect of observed climate changes and unfavorable environmental factors of an urbanized environment on the growth and condition of arboreal and shrubby vegetation.

At present, phenological observations of tree species on the territory of arboretum, begun by Professor D. M. Kaigorodov. A vast amount of knowledge was accumulated during study of the influence of many environmental factors on the seasonal development of valuable tree species: oak, larch, maple, linden, elm, birch and aspen. There was investigated the development of oak in composition of mixed stands of small-leaved species — birch and aspen. 

Following the meeting, it was noted that the development of such scientific research is relevant in the context of the development of regional strategies for adaptation to climate change.