Economic assessment of application of new reforestation technologies in conditions of climate change in the forest-steppe zone of Russia

Abstract

The development and application of new reforestation technologies remain relevant due to climate change. The main technology of forest sowing in Russia does not provide effective reforestation. Innovative technologies of reforestation based on seedlings with a closed root system make it possible to increase the livelihood of plants and accelerate reforestation processes. Using the method of determining costs, a comparative economic analysis of the technologies for growing oak seedlings with an open and closed root system in the forest-steppe regions of Russia was carried out. It was found that the technology of growing seedlings with a closed root system is less labor-consuming and provides a high level of income for investments. The innovative technology of growing seedlings with a closed root system in greenhouses is more competitive and its use allows to generate income from one hectare of area 50 times more than when growing seedlings in forest nurseries by increasing the number of seedling rotation. A comparative economic assessment of two oak seedling projects under forest-steppe conditions suggests the feasibility of moving to innovative reforestation technologies. In the current climate change conditions, a serious correction of approaches to reforestation in the forest-steppe zones of Russia is necessary.