The forestry enterprises of the Vitebsk region plan to create over 3.5 thousand hectares of new forests in 2022, with more than half of this area to be planted with seedlings possessing improved hereditary traits.
The forestry enterprises of the Vitebsk region plan to create over 3.5 thousand hectares of new forests in 2022, with more than half of this area to be planted with seedlings possessing improved hereditary traits.
This summer, the Vitebsk region experienced numerous hurricanes. Strong gusts of wind destroyed approximately 800 hectares of forest. The most affected areas were in the Shumilino forestry enterprise, covering 309 hectares, as well as Rossony (99 hectares), Gorodok (105 hectares), Beshenkovichi (85 hectares), and Verkhnedvinsk (56 hectares) forestry enterprises. Regarding the creation of new forests in areas damaged by hurricane-force winds, we plan to reforest over 600 hectares in the spring of 2022, planting around 2.7 million seedlings.
In general, the largest volumes of forest culture creation next spring will be undertaken by the Orsha, Shumilino, Tolochin, Begoml, and Verkhnedvinsk forestry enterprises.
On the remaining areas damaged by hurricanes, forestry institutions will implement measures to promote natural forest regeneration. Those plots where, due to soil conditions, it is impossible to establish a new forest, will be left for further natural reforestation.
The State Forestry Enterprise added that when afforesting areas affected by windthrow and breakage, preference will be given to planting material with a closed root system, grown from forest seeds with improved hereditary traits. This will significantly increase the survival rate of forest plants in the future and reduce the costs of their supplementation and care.
In percentage terms, 65% of the areas will be planted with European spruce, 25% with Scots pine, and about 10% with broad-leaved species – common oak, common ash, Norway maple, etc.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by