POST-FIRE RESTORATION OF VEGETATION IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PRIMORSKY RANGE

Abstract

Due to global climate change, adverse weather events such as droughts are occurring more frequently, causing an increase both in the area and number of fires. In June-September 2015, catastrophic fires took place in the Western Baikal region, which was preceded by years with long periods of extreme fire danger due to weather conditions. As a result, natural complexes on the areas of the forest fund as well as in specially protected natural areas – Pribaikalsky National Park and Baikal-Lensky Reserve, were subjected to pyrogenic effects. There were mainly intense surface, stable surface, and ground (soil) fires. Field studies were carried out in the central part of the Western Cisbaikalia in July 2020 to examine the restoration of the plant component of natural complexes on five-year-old burned areas. The research route was laid across the Primorsky Range in its northern part. The paper provides descriptions of vegetation restoration on the burned areas depending on the intensity and type of fire, the stages of digression and demutation, presents characteristics of the vegetation before the fire. The relationship between vegetation and underlying rocks is analyzed. Mountain taiga light coniferous forests with Lédum palústre were found to be associated with outcrops of acidic crystalline rocks. There was noted correlation between the Pinus pumila communities with Pinus sylvestris sparse areas (which have a limited distribution area) and illuvial-ferruginous soils on quartzite-like sandstones. The research results are presented on the profile. In modern conditions of changing climate, there is an increasing need to study the restoration dynamics of the geosystems of the Baikal natural territory and their components in order to ensure their preservation.