Assessment of the Forest-Pathological Condition of Cedar Forests of Irkutsk Region

Abstract

Siberian cedar is the most valuable tree species in the Siberian taiga. The condition of the cedar trees deteriorates annually under the influence of adverse biotic and abiotic factors in the forests of Irkutsk region. The authors analyzed and assessed the sanitary and forest- pathological condition of cedar plantations. The research used statistical data of forest pathology monitoring, which proved long-term negative changes in the condition of cedar forests. We investigated a set of causes of degradation and destruction of cedars in the Irkutsk region based on the results of 2021. The authors concluded that anthropogenic factors are causing the imbalance of the forest ecosystem, creating conditions for the negative manifestation of the most biotic factors. The proposed recommendations to reduce the impact of pathogenic factors include: introduction of interdiction and restrictions for nut harvesting, strengthening control over the implementation of sanitary measures, the use of scientific methods for predicting the development of pathogens. We also proposed to create semi-cultivated cedar plantations in the cedar forests to produce cedar nuts using forestry and agricultural techniques.