Forests on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia occupy about 85% of the total area. Mountainous relief, remoteness of forest areas from settlements and a large number of coniferous tree species are the factors of forest fires spreading – this year alone more than 600 fires were registered on the territory of the Republic, which covered an area of 370 thousand hectares.
Under favorable conditions after the passage of the fire element, the forest cover can recover on its own, but where natural regeneration is difficult, human intervention is necessary. Thus, last year the Lake Baikal Foundation launched a reforestation campaign, choosing the Republic of Buryatia as a pilot region for the implementation of measures. The project partner was the “World Around You” Foundation of Siberian Wellness. In the previous season, 15,000 seedlings were planted on an area of more than 5 hectares.
This year the campaign covers several districts, a new corporate partner – Perekryostok retail chain – joined the planting, and the area was increased 4 times – more than 75,000 young trees were planted on 20 hectares. More than 2.5 thousand trees were planted by volunteers who won a trip as part of a raffle for Baikal Day.
Reducing the burden on the environment is one of the main priorities of our company, which is reflected in the X5 Group’s sustainable development strategy. Thanks to our joint initiative with the Foundation, we were able not only to plant trees and make an impact on the environmental situation in the region, but also to draw the attention of our colleagues and Perekryostok customers to important issues. We are glad that our main principle “Everything for you! As for yourself” was echoed by our customers, who took part in the raffle of an eco-trip to Baikal and in educational master classes
Snezhana Chernogortseva, Director of Strategic Marketing and Customer Experience, Perekryostok retail chain
How were the sites for restoration selected?
A total of three sites were selected for this year’s campaign: two in Zaigrayevsky District and one in Khorinsky District. These areas were affected by fire at about the same time – 10 years ago – and during this time the forests here have not recovered on their own.
In Zaigrayevsky lesnichestvo, the fire occurred in 2015 and natural reforestation was difficult because the area is located in a depression surrounded by mountain ranges.
Natural reforestation is difficult here, so this site was designed for artificial reforestation. Since the soil here is sparse sandy soil, conifers such as common pine are the most suitable as planting material. Without human intervention, it may take several decades for the forest to regenerate on its own. The selected site is covered with grassy herbaceous ground cover, which does not allow tree seeds to germinate on their own, thus necessitating the establishment of forest crops
Vitaly Gonin, Deputy Head of the Autonomous Institution of the Republic of Buryatia “Zaigraevsky leskhoz”
At the site of the burned area since 2014 in the Khorinsky lesnichestvo, the forest cover has not recovered either. Here, logging was carried out and the area was cleared, but the poor sandy soils and climate peculiarities became obstacles to reforestation.
The area where we are planting is located in the Uda River valley. The soils here are sandy, and the forest itself is represented by medium-aged pine forests. We plant mainly in this area, as the rest of the territory has mountain massifs and stony soils. Due to low-snow winters and dry spring, there is a high risk of forest fires on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia. This year the main cause of fires is natural – dry thunderstorms. Sometimes, under favorable conditions, the forest regenerates on its own on burned areas, but in recent years natural regeneration has not occurred, so we are engaged in planting. The site that was selected for restoration also suffered from a fire in 2014. This year Khorinsky leskhoz planted 60 hectares, including 10 hectares with the support of the Lake Baikal Foundation
Svetlana Grigorieva, district forester of the department of organization of activity support of the Khorinsky lesnichestvo
How was the species composition selected?
In order to ensure that the forest crops take root, the Lake Baikal Foundation uses sustainable reforestation practices. One of the most important aspects is the selection of species composition: trees should be of the same species as those growing nearby, and it is better to use seedlings with a closed root system, grown from seeds of the forest-seed district where the planting is planned.
The planting material for this campaign was provided by a local nursery, where specialists are engaged in growing trees themselves. All seeds are certified and specialized passports have been issued for the plantations.
This year, the predominant species was pine, with cedar as an additional species. The use of mixed species allows to create sustainable plantings and reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
The Lake Baikal Foundation is engaged in reforestation as part of a large program to combat climate change. In this project, we aim to combine the expertise of the Foundation, the resources of our partners and the territory’s demand for support in implementing sustainable forest planting practices. This year, we have quadrupled the area planted compared to last year. This was possible thanks to the coordinated work of all parties – the active response of forestry enterprises, the help of partners, the willingness of the organization’s employees not only to organize the planting of young saplings, but also to take control over their survival for several years
Anastasia Tsvetkova, General Director of the Lake Baikal Foundation
How does tree planting take place?
The beginning of any planting is preceded by selection and allotment of a site, then the species composition is selected. Specialists prepare project documentation and coordinate the work in the specialized authority, in this case – in the Forestry Agency of the Republic of Buryatia.
Before planting, soil preparation is carried out, which includes a set of works on clearing the area, planning the forest plot, and creating mineralized strips. This year these works were complicated due to the mountainous terrain, as well as a large number of fallen trees, limbs and stones.
When planting, it is necessary to follow the correct technology to ensure that the seedlings take root – form wells of the right size, level the seedling so that the root neck is at the same level with the ground, and it is important to bury the seedling tightly so that no air cushion is formed.
What work is done after the trees are planted?
One year after planting, reforestation specialists together with forestry staff will check the rooting of the saplings on pre-established inventory plots. In the case of assessing the rooting rate below 85%, work will be carried out to supplement forest crops.
For more than 5 years our corporate the Foundation has been developing the “100ha” project to restore the planet’s lungs, within the framework of which we cooperate with forestry farms both in Russia and in other 14 countries where the Siberian Wellness brand is present. So far we have planted more than 1,800,000 trees. And for us, not only the choice of location and type of trees to be planted, but also the obligatory agro-care plays a particularly important role, because nature is a living system, and it is important to take care of it. That is why it is so important to support the method and measures of forest planting undertaken in Buryatia today
Marina Artyukh, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Siberian Wellness
For three years, specialists will monitor the young trees and carry out care measures to increase their survival rate. The complex of measures includes soil loosening and removal of weeds. After this period, the trees will grow stronger and become a full-fledged part of the Baikal ecosystem.