Russian Approaches to the Forest Type Classification

Abstract

The results of researches characterizing the geographical distribution of forest-ecological, phytocoenotic, and genetic classifications of forest types in the Russian Federation nowadays are presented in the thesis. A comparative analysis was carried out for the following items: the inclusive concept of a classification unit (a type of habitat conditions; a type of forest); features of distinguishing the border of the classification units; classification features used to determine the type of habitat conditions; features of the classification of phytocoenoses used to determine the forest type; the degree to which the successional dynamics of forest stands are taken into consideration; the degree to which the influence of anthropogenic factors are taken into consideration; the level of implementation in forest management and forestry practice; regions of implementation. In the process of development of forest typologies, the concept of a forest type changed from understanding it as a forest area homogeneous by composition, structure, and appearance (homogeneity in space) in natural classifications to the concepts of a forest type, in which priority is given to homogeneity in origin (genesis), as well as developmental processes and dynamics (homogeneity in time) in genetic and dynamic typologies. Currently, there is the following forest type classification in the Russian Federation: forest-ecological, phytocoenotic, genetic, and dynamic. When classifying forest areas within the forest-ecological direction provided by E.V. Alekseev - P.S. Pogrebnyak, the priority is given to the characteristics of the habitat conditions. Within the phytocoenotic direction provided by V.N. Sukachev, the priority is given to the phytocoenosis characteristics. Within the genetic approach provided by B.A. Ivashkevich - B.P. Kolesnikov, a forest type is considered as a series of alternating phases - types of phytocoenosis within the same type of habitat conditions. In this case, phytocoenotic classifications can be a part of the genetic classifications for the climax forest phytocoenosis. And the dynamic approach provided by I.S. Melekhov is very close to the genetic one and is a superstructure over the classical phytocoenotic forest typology provided by V.N. Sukachev. The current use of forest typological classifications by forest inventory management enterprises in the Russian Federation was studied. A map of the geographical distribution of forest typologies of the above-listed directions of forest typology researches was created. Forest-ecological classifications are used mainly in the southern regions of the European part of Russia and the North Caucasus. Forest typologies created based on a genetic approach to the forest type classification are used in Western Siberia, in the south of the Far East and Eastern Siberia, and in some regions of the Urals. Phytocoenotic classifications of forest types are used in other regions of the Russian Federation. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.