Forest-forming Species Research Articles

Динамика экосистем свежего бора центра Приволжской возвышенности

The results of a study of the dynamics of a rather rare type of forest ecosystem for the central part of the Volga Upland – fresh pinery (A2) – are presented. The research was carried out on the territory of the Upper Sura section of the Volga Forest-Steppe Nature Reserve. The progress of the process was studied in an age series, identified in homogeneous forest conditions based on the principles of dynamic classification of forest types. As a result of processing forest taxation data, average values of taxation indicators of forest stands were obtained for each age class. At the same time, an analysis of changes in all components of the plantings was carried out. On its basis, the age series was divided into separate periods and phases. Trends in the share of participation of each forest-forming species in the forest stand at different age stages are described by nonlinear equations. The study showed that the resulting age series represents a series of transformation of forest communities. Disruption of the forest formation process led to a large-scale replacement of indigenous plantings with derivatives. After the start of clear-cutting, the area occupied by deciduous trees (primarily birch) constantly grew. A consequence of the large-scale use of intermediate, sanitary and voluntary selective fellings was the formation of thinned pine stands. At the same time, a transformation of the lower tiers of communities also occurred. These factors caused a deterioration in the conditions for natural regeneration of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). As a result, to date, the possibility of forming pine stands through natural regeneration is almost completely excluded.

SEED GERMINATION AND GROWTH DYNAMICS OF SEEDLINGS OF SCOTS PINE (PINUS SYLVESTRIS L.) WITH A CLOSED ROOT SYSTEM ON DIFFERENT SUBSTRATES

The relevance of the study is due to the great needs of growing high-quality planting material in a short time for forestry reclamation on disturbed lands both during oil and gas exploration and during oil and gas production. The paper presents the results of studies of germination energy, germination and growth dynamics of Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings grown in RKL-81 cassettes in a greenhouse in 2022 and 2023. At the same time, the renewal of forests is possible after the technical and biological stages of recultivation when creating forest crops from indigenous forestforming species. In 2022 and 2023, experiments were conducted on different types of peat-based substrate, differing in density, nutrient content and additional components from a complex of humic acids and salts, mineral fertilizers, trace elements, strains of friendly soil microflora and mycorrhiza. Pre-sowing seed treatment and agrophysical properties of substrates affected the energy of seed germination and germination, as well as an increase in the total number of germinated seeds during the first month. Good germination results were obtained in 2022 with pre-sowing seed treatment with Borogum-M, Rich-Micro, Bionex-Kemi preparations in low-density peat, filled with the starting composition of fertilizers. However, the biometric indicators of seedlings were slightly higher on the substrate with the addition of humic acids and salts, mineral fertilizers, trace elements, strains of soil microflora and mycorrhiza. In 2023, agroperlite was added to one of the peat substrates to reduce density and increase porosity. The germination energy, germination rate and dynamics of the emergence of seedlings on this substrate turned out to be the highest (from 93 to 100%). It is proposed to grow pine seedlings during one growing season on low-density peat with the addition of agroperlite and a complex of mineral and organic components, including soil microflora and mycorrhiza. This will speed up the process of obtaining the planting material of scots pine for forestry reclamation on disturbed lands both during oil and gas exploration and during oil and gas production.

Carbon Sequestration Dynamics in Urban-Adjacent Forests: A 50-Year Analysis

Achieving carbon neutrality is crucial for urban ecosystems. Forests growing near cities largely determine the state of the environment in urban areas. The aim of the present research is to assess the carbon productivity dynamics in forests near Krasnoyarsk (a large industrial center) over a 50-year period in terms of carbon sequestration and conservation. The study was based on forest inventory conducted in Karaul'noe Forestry in 1972, 1982, and 2002 and forest inventory covering six forest compartments in 2022. The forest covers 3980 ha and consists of 52 forest compartments. The analysis was based on the assessment of carbon productivity dynamics and followed four levels of principles: forestry, structure, forest compartment, and forest stand. The research was based on forest fund dynamics, analyzing methods, long-term forest inventory, assessing carbon stock, and growing stock dynamics. Pine is the dominant forest-forming species that absorbs the most carbon in the study area. Pine is long-lived, covers a vast area, and has the highest carbon sequestration potential. At the forest structure level, the predominant carbon pools are mid-late successional and late successional stands dominated by pine, birch, and aspen. Forest compartment-level analysis revealed three trends in carbon sequestration: carbon balance, a decrease in carbon sequestration, and an increase in carbon sequestration. Notably, the prevailing trend is determined by changes in carbon sequestration by dominant forest-forming species (pine). Forest stand-level analysis showed that stands have become more and more uneven-aged. About 65% of total carbon stock is concentrated in mid successional, mid-late successional and late-successional stands, and 35% in young stands. The carbon sequestration rate decreases in forests with age. However, pine forests increase biological productivity and continue to successfully sequester carbon. Deciduous forests have lost their carbon sequestration potential, and the area they occupy is currently decreasing in the study area. The development of the young generation in pine stands suggests that the carbon sequestration potential in forests growing near the city will not decrease and may even increase due to climate change. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-09-08 Full Text: PDF

Does distance from a sand mine affect needle features in Pinus sylvestris L.?

Needle traits of P. sylvestris exhibit high variability depending on habitat conditions and thus may be used to assess the effect of anthropopressure on tree condition in this species. The variability of 22 needle features of Scots pine, collected from populations growing at different distances from the Bełżec-Podlesina eolian sand mine located in Poland, was investigated. No similar research has been conducted to date. The needles were collected from 40 trees growing in similar habitat conditions on four study plots located at a distance of 205.281 to 997.598 m from the sand mine. In total, 3460 needles from 117 samples were measured. It was observed that the distance of the study plots from the sand mine had a statistically significant effect on all the analysed needle traits, with the most extreme values recorded for the needles coming from trees growing on the plots most distant from the sand mine. The characteristics of greatest importance for assessing the impact of the sand mine on needle condition in the studied trees included: needle length/needle width, needle length, needle length/needle thickness, number of stomata on the convex side of the needle/needle length, needle width/resin duct diameter, resin duct diameter, number of stomata on the convex side of the needle/needle width, number of stomata on the concave side of the needle/needle length and number of stomata on the convex side of the needle. The effect of the distance of a given study plot from the sand mine depended on the age of the needles. The analyses confirmed that despite the adaptability of Scots pine to local environmental conditions, the morphological and anatomical characteristics of its needles changed under the influence of anthropopressure. Thus, selected features of the assimilatory organs may be used to monitor the impact of opencast operations on this important forest-forming species.

On the Restoration of Azerbaijan Hyrcanian Forests

The processes of development of forest communities are considered, forest-forming species and main associations are identified. In mountainous areas, relief is one of the important factors affecting the distribution of forest-forming tree species along various slopes. The authors provide data on the main forest types. A brief summary characteristic of the forest-forming tree species of the Hyrcanian forests by height is presented. Regularities of change of soils and other ecological conditions of forests are determined. The state of forests has been assessed and the authors come to the conclusion that these communities need to be monitored and protected.

Fungi complicit in oak powdery mildew infection in the Oława Forest District

Oaks are important forest-forming species in Poland. It is an important species from an economic perspective in Polish forestry. Oak is characterized by high tolerance in terms of soil requirements, which include soil formations from sandy to clayey with a reaction from acidic to indifferent, sometimes even alkaline in pedunculate oak. It is sensitive to late frosts. In recent years, climate change has been observed in Europe and also in Poland. Abiotic stresses caused by unfavourable weather conditions have worsened the health of oak trees, on which other pathogens, primarily fungi, have become established. The research was carried out at two sites in the Oława Forest District in Bystrzyca in 2022. They consisted in collecting 10 representative shoots from each research area, which were then used to isolate fungal species in the laboratory. The results of the experiment confirm that co-occurring species can be observed with the presence of powdery mildew. Oak shoots are colonised by both pathogenic and saprotrophic fungal species. The high occurrence of pathogenic fungi species along with powdery mildew on oak shoots can be associated with the deterioration of the phytosarcoma condition of oaks, however, in order to be able to state this unequivocally, research on this phenomenon should be focused on in the future.

Leaf mesophyll structure and tree biomass of birches from different climatic zones in Northern Eurasia

In the context of global climate change, it is becoming increasingly important to study the adaptation of forest-forming species, assess their productivity and predict the transformation of forest ecosystems. Here we present the analysis of leaf mesophyll structure and tree biomass in populations of Betula pendula Roth and Betula pubescens Ehrh. along the global climatic transect representing the latitudinal distribution area of these species in Northern Eurasia. It has been shown that with distance from climatic optimum, biological productivity decreases and a structural rearrangement of leaf mesophyll based on a change in cell size and providing a positive carbon balance occurs. High correlations between photosynthetic cells volumes and stem biomass were found. It was concluded that mesophyll cells sizes underlie the structural adaptation of photosynthesis to climate, that determine birch productivity under changing growth conditions. The sizes of photosynthetic cells can be considered as a good predictors of woody species productivity and transformation of forest ecosystems under global climatic changes.

Use of Stimulants for Pre-Sowing Treatment of the Scots Pine Seeds

For the cultivation of planting stock of forest-forming species, the measure most often used currently is the pre-sowing treatment of seeds with stimulants, which positively affects the germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings, and for each region of the country the choice of growth substances is different. The aim of the research was to identify the optimal stimulant and soaking time during the pre–sowing treatment of Scots pine seeds (Pinus sylvestris L.). The objects of research were one- and two-year-old seedlings, growing in the forest nursery of the Shaldai branch of the State Forest Natural Reserve (SFNR) “Ertis Ormany” in the Pavlodar region. Three stimulants (Baikal, Zircon, Humate-7 trace substances) and the fungicide Trichocine were tested. The field germination of seeds, the number of plants per unit area and the height of seedlings were all studied. In the experiment with a combined usage of the stimulants and the Trichocine, the average height of pine yearlings was lower than that of control seedlings. But at the age of two years, the average height of seedlings in the two experiments exceeded the height of control seedlings by 20.8 and 1.4%. Thus, the prolonged effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with the stimulants and the Trichocine on enhancing the growth and number of preserved seedlings per unit area at the age of two years has been proven. The data obtained from cluster and rank analyses showed that for the pre-sowing treatment of Scots pine seeds in the conditions of ribbon forests of the Irtysh region, the most optimal way was to soak the seeds in the Humate + 7 micronutrients for 12 hours together with the Trichocine (12 + 2 hours) in a concentration of 1.5 g of the stimulant and 0.6 g of the fungicide per 1 liter of water.

Shyshatska sand arena: History, current state, and prospects of afforestation

Non-afforested lands in Ukraine are the primary instrument for increasing the forest cover of the territory The issue of sand afforestation is relevant in the context of climate change. Treeless sand arenas are a source of dust storms, and deflationary processes that occur lead to negative consequences that are quite difficult to correct in the future. The purpose of this study was to summarise the experience and achievements of the branch “Myrhorod Forest Enterprise” of the State Specialised Commercial Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” in afforestation of mobile sands in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Forest stands are established using one-year-old Scots pine seedlings on sandy soils to achieve the set goal. Testing is conducted using planting material grown under various conditions – in the open ground and in a greenhouse. Extended periods for establishing forest stands beyond agrotechnical terms are examined during the late spring and summer periods using rejuvenated planting material with partially damaged root systems. The current state of plantings within the Shyshatska sand arena is analysed. It is established that in general, the territory of the arena is represented by the entire range of types of forest conditions ranging from bors to mixed broad-leaved forests. The prevailing types of forest-growing conditions are given, among which dry and fresh forests are distinguished. Subors and su-deciduous forests are represented on small areas. Deciduous types of conditions are located mainly in the drained areas of the Psel River floodplain. The main forest-forming species on the territory of the arena is Scots pine, which occupies more than 60% of the territory. Also in the lowlands and floodplains of the Psel River stands of Black Alder and Common Oak grow. In the conditions of bors, Scots pine grows in III – Va bonitet class. In richer conditions, subor and su-deciduous forest cultures have better indicators and have a class I-II bonitet, but there are not many of them. The results of this study can be used in the afforestation of sandy lands in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine and adjacent regions

Состояние лиственничников и перспективы выращивания лиственницы сибирской в подзоне хвойно-широколиственных лесов

For the sustainable development of society, timely and high-quality reproduction of forests is necessary with the preservation of ecosystem functions at the expense of economically valuable species, such as Larix sibirica Led. The aim of the work is to study the composition and structure of artificially created larch forests in the subzone of broadleafconiferous forests of the Kirov Region to find out the possibility, expediency and features of them for the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity, as well as timber resources. Communities were characterized from these positions by traditional silvicultural, geobotanical, ecological, and cenotic characteristics. The state of the stand was evaluated in comparison with normal stands according to M.M. Orlov. It was found that: 1) Larch stands mainly correspond to the values of normal stands of this age and are distinguished by a greater stock of wood than forests of the main forest-forming species of the region. 2) There is a tendency of natural transformation of larch forests into forests with greater participation of spruce: large undergrowth of Picea abies L., Abies sibirica Ledeb., Betula pendula L.; presence of boreal species in underbrush: Sorbus aucuparia L., Rubus idaeus L.; prevalence of boreal ecological and cenotic group (EEC) among herbs; moss cover of taiga species. 3) The main reason for community change is high density of stands. 4) Presence of non-moral ECG species, including Convallaria majalis L., which is protected in Kirov region. Increase of resource, supporting and preserving functions of forest ecosystems in the sub-zone of broadleaf-coniferous forests of Kirov region is possible and expedient by using L. sibirica in forest reproduction. To prevent transformation of larch forests into forests with spruce it is necessary to maintain illumination, for which purpose it is expediente carry out a full complex of forest maintenance cuts, especially thinning and pass logging.

Assessment of intangible ecosystem services of forests of the Ternopil region

Purpose. Assess the intangible ecosystem services of forests in the Ternopil region. Methods. Descriptive, statistical, assess and geoenvironmental analysis. Results. The article assess intangible ecosystem services forests of the Ternopil region: recreational capacity, oxygen production, carbon dioxide assimilation, greenhouse gas absorption. The region is dominated by operational forests, the average age of forests is 62 years. The main forest-forming species are oak, beech, hornbeam and ash. Ecologically permissible recreational capacity of forests of the Ternopil region is 824 400 people for all lands of the forest fund and 112 500 people for recreational-health forests. It is established that the average daily volume of oxygen production by forests of the region is 36,6 thousand tons, the volume of carbon dioxide assimilation – 45,8 thousand tons. Forests of Ternopil region, during the year, absorb 875 700 tons of greenhouse gases. The development of integrated use of forest resources and the expansion of the use of intangible forest resources remain priority areas for the forestry in the region. Conclusions. This area of research is promising and relevant, especially in the context of current global and regional climate change. Such studies should be detailed at the level of individual state forestry enterprises, administrative districts and territorial communities. The results of such research contribute to the monetization of forest ecosystem services and the rational management of forest ecosystems on the basis of sustainable development.

Структурные особенности лесных фитоценозов формирующихся на скальниках после пожара

It has been established that, depending on the forest-forming species and growing conditions, the restoration of the forest ecosystem in the burnt area is extended for a long period. A feature of the formation of a full-fledged forest phytocenosis after the forest fire is the delayed accumulation of organic matter. This is also connected with the time-delayed development of all components of the forest. Under these conditions, 15 years after the fire, young trees with a predominance of pine and birch were formed on the site of the burnt pine forest. The undergrowth of aspen, spruce and gray alder is represented by single individuals. The total amount of undergrowth of natural origin reaches 4.5 thousand trees /ha. The undergrowth with a height of more than 2 m prevails. The undergrowth includes five types of shrub species such as mountain ash, willow, juniper, honeysuckle and juneberry. The total number of understory species is 350 trees/ha. More than 21 plant species have been identified as part of the living ground cover. The occurrence of lichens, heather, polytrichum juniperus, hairy ojica, willow-tea and meandering meadow grass is more than 50 %. Lichens, heather, lingonberry and polytrichum juniperus predominate in the protective coating. The composition of the herbage is polytrichum juniperus — 32 %, lichens — 23 %, heather — 22 %, lingonberries — 15 %, others — 8 %. The purpose of the research is to identify the features of the forest ecosystem regeneration after the forest fire after the burnt lichen pine. The object of research was a 15-year-old young forest after the forest fire in the territory of the Prionezhsky forestry of the Republic of Karelia.

Incidence and pathogenicity of Phytophthora species in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands in Slovakia

The common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the main forest-forming species in Slovakia and its share accounts for over 31% of the total forest area in this country. Recently, there are more and more reports of the deterioration of the health of this species in Europe, incl. as a result of the action of pathogens of the genus Phytophthora. The aim of this study is to confirm the presence of pathogens of the genus Phytophthora in beech forests in Slovakia. Ten plots in central and western Slovakia were selected for the study. The presence of: P. x cambivora, P. cactorum, P. plurivora, Globisporangium macrosporum, and G. heterothallicum was confirmed in the samples taken. A pathogenicity test was performed to confirm Koch’s postulates. After three months, the plants were gently taken out, and then: the pathogen was reisolated from the roots to confirm its presence in the tissues, the root systems were scanned and the image was analyzed with WinRhizo software, and finally the roots were dried to obtaining dry biomass. Additionally, during the course of the experiment, the degree of infection of the plants was assessed weekly in order to calculate the area under the disease-progress curve. The conducted research showed the greatest threat from P. x cambivora. In this variant, the symptoms of plant dieback were observed the fastest, as well as the pathogen, compared to the control variant, significantly damaged the root systems.

Studying the Growth Course of Rough Elm (<i>Ulmus Glabra Huds</i>) in the Bayrachny Oak Grove of the Kashar Forestry of the Rostov Region

Rough elm is one of the main forest-forming species of Kashar forestry of the Rostov region. The aim of the research is to study the changes in the main inventory indicators (height, diameter, volume, increments, etc.) of the rough elm at different age periods. The study of the growth course of the rough elm in the dry bayrachny oak grove is of scientific and practical significance, since this tree species is used for the needs of the national economy not only in the Rostov region, but also in other regions of the Russian Federation. During the study of the growth course of the trunk of the rough elm, the methods generally accepted in forest inventory were applied. Enumerative inventory was carried out on the established trial area and the estimated inventory indicators (height and diameter) of the model tree were determined. After cutting down the model tree, its height, the length of the crown and the branchless trunk were measured, the places of taking cuts were marked in the middle of 2 m sections, at the base of the trunk, at a height of 1.3 m, and at the base of the vertex. In the course of the office processing, the tables of the growth course in diameter, height, volume and increment were compiled, as well as the graphs of the changes of the main inventory indicators in absolute values. The analysis of the data obtained showed that the rough elm has grown steadily over 34 years according to the main inventory indicators (height, diameter, volume), the values of increments vary. The reliability and correctness of the obtained regression equations of the growth course of rough elm (in height, diameter, volume) in the dry bayrachny oak grove is confirmed by the high value of the approximation coefficient (R2 = 0.99).

FEATURES OF ADSORPTION OF PARTICULATE MATTER BY NEEDLES AND LEAVES OF TREES IN IRKUTSK URBAN FORESTS

The pollution of natural forests preserved on the territory of the Irkutsk city was studied in terms of the level of adsorption of aerosol particles (particulate matter, PMx) by main forest-forming species of woody plants. The needles of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), as well as leaves of Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) were sampled on the laid test plots to study their sorption capacity in relation to PMx. Using the methods of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectral microanalysis, a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and chemical composition of aerosol particles on the surface of needles and leaves was shown. The adsorbed PMx particles were found to contain carbon, silicon, sulfur, calcium, phosphorus, chlorine, and magnesium in the greatest amount; a significant proportion of heavy metals present in the form of metallized particle accumulations, in which the metal content can reach 80%. It has been shown that aerosol particles actively penetrate needle/leaf tissues through stomata and cuticle, damaging them. With a high level of pollution by PMx, complete clogging of the stomata and heavy destruction of dermal tissues are often observed. The high level of adsorption of particulate matter by needles and leaves of trees indicates a high cleaning capacity of urban forests. At the same time, pollution with PMx particles has a powerful negative effect on physiological and biochemical processes of a tree organism, which is manifested in a sharp violation of the parameters of photosynthesis, transpiration, and inhibition of growth processes.

PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL MONITORING OF DANGEROUS OUTBREAKS DISEASE OF FOREST TREES WITH USE METHOD OF CHANGING RADIAL INCREMENTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE POLISKY NATURE RESERVE

PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL MONITORING OF DANGEROUS OUTBREAKS DISEASE OF FOREST TREES WITH USE METHOD OF CHANGING RADIAL INCREMENTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE POLISKY NATURE RESERVE

The community of soil fungi associated with the western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don, 1824)

ABSTRACT The western red cedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), an important forest-forming species in the Western part of the North American continent, is an alien species naturalised in Europe. It is popular and highly valued in horticulture. While considering the progressing climate change, it may also be a potential alternative to native species in European forests. The community of soil fungi associated with the western red cedar in forested areas of Europe has not been fully determined. Thus, this study is aimed to identify the community of soil fungi associated with the western red cedar. The experimental plots are located in the Kościan Forest District (51°98’87″ N; 16°23’54″ E). All soil samples were taken from the topsoil layer at a depth of 25 cm with a trowel, three from the centre of natural regeneration (1G, 2G, 5G) and three from the centre stand under the canopy of old-growth western red cedar (3G, 4G, 6G). Fungi were identified directly from the soil based on the ITS1 rDNA region. The derived product was sequenced using Illumina’s sequencing by synthesis (SBS) technology. Sequences were referred to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database applying the BLAST algorithm. The fungal counts were defined based on the number of operational taxonomic units (OTU) in the sample. The OTU number was 835 206, with fungal isolates accounting for 683 095 (81.79%). A total of 8 591 taxa belonging to the Kingdom Fungi were identified. The species with the greatest shares in the community included Mortierella spp. (10.5%), Russula spp. (5.6%), Hydnum spp. (3.44%), Solicoccozyma spp. (3.1%) and Penicillium spp. (2.2%). Results showed that saprotrophs and mycorrhizal fungi predominated in the community. The dominance of ectomycorrhizal fungi over arbuscular ones, quite impressive natural regeneration was shown in T. plicata stands in Kościan. Subsequent research should take into account tree stands in Poland in which natural regeneration does not occur or occurs sporadically.

Evaluation the effect of different doses of mineral fertilizers on the height growth of forest seedlings: A case study of Chatkal ridge

This article describes the effects of different mineral fertilizer doses on the growth and development of seedlings of four forest-forming species grown with a closed root system on the western and southern slopes of the Chatkal ridge. The results show that different fertilizer doses have various effects on different types of seedlings. The effect of fertilizers on improving the growth of forest crops in the first year was not fully manifested, since growth buds were laid a year before fertilization against a natural background of growth conditions. Plants that had received more nutrients the year before grew the year ahead after fertilization, and a beneficial effect became apparent. The rate of fertilizer N90P90 K60 was more effective on pine growth on the western slope, while N120P180K60 showed high results on the southern. Oak on both slopes was better affected by a lower dose of fertilizer, hawthorn on both slopes by higher doses, and both doses had roughly the same effect on an apple tree. Therefore, for the apple trees, it can be recommended, as for oak, the depositing of a smaller dose due to the lower cost.

Automated Recognition of Tree Species Composition of Forest Communities Using Sentinel-2 Satellite Data

Information about the species composition of a forest is necessary for assessing biodiversity in a particular region and making economic decisions on the management of forest resources. Recognition of the species composition, according to the Earth’s remote sensing data, greatly simplifies the work and reduces time and labor costs in comparison with a traditional inventory of the forest, conducted through ground-based observations. This study analyzes the possibilities of tree species discrimination in coniferous–deciduous forests according to Sentinel-2 data using two automated recognition methods: random forest (RF) and generative topographic mapping (GTM). As remote sensing data, Sentinel-2 images of the Raifa section of Volga-Kama State Reserve in the Tatarstan Republic, Russia used: six images for the vegetation period of 2020. The analysis was carried out for the main forest-forming species. The training sample was created based on the cadastral data of the forest fund. The recognition quality was assessed using the F1-score, precision, recall, and accuracy metrics. The RF method showed a higher recognition accuracy. The accuracy of correct recognition by the RF method on the training sample reaches 0.987, F1-score = 0.976, on the control sample, accuracy = 0.764, F1-score = 0.709.

STATЕ OF NATURAL OAK FORЕSTS OF ZHMERYNSKE FORЕSTRY

The article shows the problems of researching the state of natural oak forests of the branch "Zhmerynske LH", which is in the functional structure of the regional forestry and hunting economy department of Vinnytsia region. In the research material of the article, an analytical review of the specialized enterprise's forest management database is carried out. The result of the analysis of forest management data and visual inspection within the forest areas of the Zhmerynske Forestry Branch is the determination of the taxonomic indicators of oak forest plantations of seed and vegetative origin. The preserved natural oak stands within the forest areas of the branch "Zhmerynske Forestry" grow in optimal forest and vegetation conditions. The vast majority of natural oak stands grow in fresh hornbeam forests and less in wet hornbeam forests. It has been established that natural oak forests within the forest fund of a forestry enterprise are represented by vegetative and seed plantations by origin. Analytical data show that there is a tendency to reduce the share of natural oak forests within the enterprise. It has been determined that the enterprise is dominated by oak forests of natural origin with a share of 9-10 units of oak, mostly 110 years old. The area of these plantations is the maximum and amounts to 159.3 hectares. It was found that the oak stands are characterized mainly by the 2nd class of bonita. The average stock ranges from 310-342 m3/ha. The result of the research is the establishment that in natural oak forests there is almost no sustainable natural regeneration of the main forest-forming species. Also, based on visual inspections, it was found that in the conditions of fresh pile, natural regeneration of oak is not found in the existing forest types.