Themes, made on the basis of the State task

"Development of proposals on artificial (silviculture) and combined method of target species recovery correction based on the the process of plantation formation on the experimental-production plots study"

Basic technology charts are developed for creation of commercially valuable saplings of artificial and combined origin in various forest conditions. Recommendations for coniferous and deciduous saplings recovery by means of artificial and combined ways on the forest fund lands of European part of Russia. Creation of basic technological charts draft for saplings of birch up to 7-8 years of age, as well as recommendations for artificial and combined recovery of commercially-valuable saplings in the Srednetaezhny forest area of the European part of Russia are introduced in Lyuban, Gatchina forestries, Lisinsk experimental station pf the Leningrad region on 45.6 square hectares with the purpose of reforestation efficiency improvement.

As a result of implementation, the economic effect is expected as reforestation cost reduction when maintaining silvicultural requirements to quality of saplings under formation.

"A comprehensive assessment of the forest resources availability, taking into account the development of transport infrastructure on the territory of North-West Federal District"

The proposals for sustainable use of the North-West Federal District forest resources have been prepared on the basis of:

• comprehensive assessment of the forest resources availability;
• information of the transport ways status examination,
• information on the roads of different categories density analysis;
• study and evaluation of information on timber production volumes,
• roadpattern;
• analysis of social aspects of regions roadpattern, data of road network state, materials of forest roads categories

Proposals can be used by regional forest management and forest fund potential tenants for attractive forest areas identification to make the forest resources use efficient.

As a result of the implementation, it is possible to assess the degree of forest resources economic availability and profitability of their development. Environmental aspect presented in this research and development, allows to minimize the negative impact on the environment in conditions of industrial logging.

"Development of recommendations on the rational use of drained lands in the forest fund on the example of Leningrad, Novgorod, Vologda and Arkhangelsk regions"

Recommendations on the rational use of drained lands in the forest fund on the example of Leningrad, Novgorod, Vologda and Arkhangelsk regions have been developed. The proposal on  the "Main regulations on forest hydromelioration" revision approved by the Federal Forestry Agency in 1995, with regard to the inclusion in them of the above recommendations have been provided.

Recommendations may be used for drainage system and clean felling drainage reconstruction, providing maximum use of the drained land fertility, creation of stands with targeted parameters of taxational indicators, acceleration of costs spent on amelioration return.

As a result of the implementation, high silvicultural and economic efficiency of the forest lands drainage is expected that would maintain the necessary felling volumes in forest estate lands with exhausted forest base on dry lands.

"Improvement of multirotational schemes of containerized tree seedlings planting for the North-West European part of Russia conditions, depending on the summer type greenhouses equipment configuration"

Practical recommendations on multirotational schemes of containerized tree seedlings planting use for the North-West European part of Russia conditions have been prepared. The proposed recommendations are implemented in the Luga selection-seed center of the Leningrad region and is used for pine and spruce ball-rooted seedling planting.

"Development of method for comprehensive assessment of Norway spruce genotypes for plantations of high genetic value creation"

Method for comprehensive assessment of plus trees genetic properties to create seed plantations of high genetic value on the basis of the families studies in the test cultures and clones on seed plantations have been developed.

The technique is used in the design and operation of the united genetic and selection complex (mother-tree archives of the first-order and higher genetic value) in Leningrad region (Gatchinskoe forestry, Taitskoye forestry). The expected economic effect is the increase of Norway spruce crops productivity created using seed material of  "high genetic value" and "elite" breeding categories.

"Ensuring of biotechnological and selection achievements"

For the purpose of creation and maintaining a collection of fast-growing tree species clones with valuable commercial properties, the Institute supports 8 lines of Aspen of Kostroma Forest Experiment Station and Finnish selection. From them: four - triploid, two - diploid fast-growing and resistant to the heart rot, one - hybrid with higher rates of growth, one -normal diploid used as a control. 6 birch lines of our selection are also supported.

Collection of selected and forest forming species clones received through biotechnological way in conditions of in vitro, as well as the comparative characteristic of clones based on laboratory experiments, microplot tests and studies of forest test crops is used for cultivation of cloned birch planting material which was used for plantations (0.3 HA) creation on unused farmlands of the State Scientific Institution  "Leningrad Scientific-Research Institute of Agriculture" (Leningrad region, Gatchinsky district, Belogorka). The collection is also used to perform research on the State task topic: "Research of the genetic stability of the birch cloned breed through genetic and morphometric methods», «Use of symbiotic microorganisms during cultivation of aspen triploid planting material in vitro".

As a result of the introduction it is expected that the use of collection of clones to create fast-growing plantations will increase productivity of plantings at 30-50% (expert assessment) depending on the soil fertility of the selected site.

"Evaluation of fungi pathogenicity developing in declining stands of the taiga forests of the European part of Russia"

According to the results of researches carried out, 204 taxons of fungi were found (kingdom Fungi subdivisions Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Deuteromycota) included in aspen consortium in the conditions of taiga forests of the European part of Russia. The list of identified species is compiled. For species of economic importance, the description allowing to carry out their diagnosis are made. Summary of fungi species found in declining stands of aspen in Russia, presented as a result of the work, is the most complete.

"Development of recommendations on forest fires detection and suppression"

Draft recommendations on the forest fires detection and suppression was prepared regulating activity firefighting services during forest fires detection and extinguishing.

"Development of methodical recommendations on parameter determination of fire barriers in pine forests, methods and technical means of their creation"

Methodological recommendations were developed in respect of parameters determination of fire barriers in pine forests, methods and technical means of their creation when protecting objects located in the forests against fires that can be used in fire-fighting management of forest territories around such objects. Implementation of these recommendations will protect valuable forests against fires, hundreds of settlements, thousands of houses and other infrastructure facilities located in or having a common border with them.

Topics, made on the basis of the state contracts

"The scientific rationale for the establishment of criteria and standards for forests inclusion in the categories of protective forests, allocation of especially protective forest sites in the protective forests, exploitable forests, and reserved forests"

In the new draft document, the forests categorizing to protective forests is shown. The functional purpose and role of forests in different protective forests categories is clarified. Criteria and regulations of protective forests categories and especially protective sites establishment are normalized. The order of forest areas falling under only one of the protective forests categories was established. It is requested to allocate functional zones within the categories of protective forests on which more strict regime is established. For example, protected shoreline belts in water protection zones. It is not recommended to allocate especially protective sites in the protective forests if they have the same preservation duty, as well as in the reserved forests.

The proposals to transfer all technical description (list of categories of protective forests and RAM) from Forestry Code of the Russian Federation to lower-level documents were formulated. The proposals are finalized as a draft amendments to the Forestry Code of the Russian Federation, including the new wording of article 102. Additionally, the proposals on other articles of the Forestry Code of the Russian Federation have been prepared.

"Development of scientific rationale for the forest fund zoning according to instructions for use of fire combat forces"

The developed scientific rationale for the forest fund zoning according to instructions for use of fire combat forces are based on the system of indicators, from which these methods depend on. For each indicator, the numeral criterion for the forest fund zoning according to fire combat force way of use has been proposed.

Recommendations on the forest fund territory zoning have been prepared according to fire combat force way of use with detailed description necessary for the input information calculation. The sources of input information have been described.

"The scientific rationale of workscope standards, strength for duty attracted for forest fires extinguishing taking into account different fire conditions"

Based on the scientific analysis of historic data on the fire fighting bulk, strength for duty attracted for forest fires extinguishing in regions with different fire conditions, including scope of works, requirements for the works performance, average and peak number of fires per year, the conclusions about the fire services provision have been made. The results of the forest fire service works are recorded using the standard values of indicators that are associated with the levels of protection of the territories concerned. Workscope standards for forest fires extinguishing, normative values of technical means numbers have been calculated. Mathematical model for standard number of strength for fire extinguishing calculation has been developed.

Further, the study results can be recommended for calculation of workscope standards during forest fires extinguishing, as well as fire extinguishing strength of specialized fire units.

"The project of evidence-based recommendations for the construction, renovation and operation of the forest hydromelioration systems, as a part of the forests and used peatlands fire management plan"

Approximately 40% of forest drainage networks channels are in poor and bad condition. Forest hydromelioration systems need to be repaired and reconstructed. These works, as well as new drainage, should be carried out in close conjunction with forests fire management and cutover peatlands returned to the forest  fund.

Based on the literature and the results of the studies analysis, the existing recommendations in the technical guidance and forests fire management of drained lands of forest fund when constructing new forest hydromelioration systems, during their reconstruction and subsequent technical operation are reviewed and "Draft evidence-based recommendations on construction, renovation and operation of forest hydromelioration systems as a part of forests and cutover peatlands fire management plan" is presented.

The project is used in recommendations with respect of the technology of the drained land input into practical use (recovery (renaturation) of marshes, the drainage network on unforested lands restoration, successful afforestation with broadleaved species naturally).

The results of the work are used when planning forest fire management in the constituent units of the Russian Federation, when developing forestry regulations and forest development plans.

In addition, for the purpose of research findings in practice introduction the following works were carried out:

• proposals to improve the seeds of pine and spruce sowing in containers with artificial substrate improvement were developed;
• proposals to improve the effectiveness of the different schemes of pine and spruce growing in containers with artificial substrate in the Forest Breeding and Seed Center of Leningrad region were developed;
• laboratory studies of the improved wetting agent TPM were carried out to assess its application during forest fires extinguishing;
• methodical recommendations for bench tests on evaluation of fire resistance of the forest fire crawler tractor Onezhets 310BG were developed and the tractor Onezhets 310BG was tested for fire;
• FIREGIS software - a system of video monitoring of forest fires has been developed, the software has been delivered to a number of forestries of the Moscow region;
• system of the forest fire units operational control using the protected video conferencing has been created;
• design documentation has been developed and prototype of seedlings ejector pin  SPbNIILH-VSU-01 has been manufactured.