В статье рассмотрены вопросы искусственного лесовосстановления на гарях в условиях криолитозоны Якутии. Научно обоснованных работ по лесным культурам в Якутии до настоящего времени не было. Подведены итоги многолетних наблюдений за лиственничными культурами, заложенными на территории Мегино-Кангаласского лесничества Республики Саха (Якутия). Искусственное лесовосстановление проведено саженцами лиственницы Каяндера ( Larix cajanderi Mayr) с открытой корневой системой. Проанализированы зафиксированные в разных источниках опыт создания, а также рост и развитие лесных культур лиственницы, дана оценка приживаемости за 20 лет. Выявлено, что в первые годы после посадки, в период адаптации к новым условиям среды, темпы роста саженцев низкие, а через 3-4 года они увеличиваются, и в 15-20 лет отмечается их максимальный рост. Приведена характеристика живого напочвенного покрова на участке искусственного лесовосстановления и на контроле. Прослежены существенные изменения в растительности: ее трансформация с преимущественно лугово-разнотравной в лесную. Материалы статьи могут стать основой для разработки перспективных технологий лесовосстановления в условиях криолитозоны и позволят добиться качественного восстановления лесов при проведении работ по искусственному и комбинированному лесовосстановлению в свете последних изменений в лесном законодательстве. The article deals with the issues of artificial reforestation on the burnt areas in the permafrost zone of East Siberia (Yakutia). Scientifically substantiated work on forest plantations in Yakutia has not been carried out before this work. The results of long-term observations of larch crops, which were carried out on the territory of the Megino-Kangalassky forestry of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), are summed up. Artificial reforestation was carried out with of Kayander larch ( Larix cajanderi Mayr) seedlings. The article also presents and analyzes all the experiences of creating forest plantations recorded in various sources, carried out in the republic in different years. An analysis of the growth and development of larch plantation is given, an estimate of survival rate for 8 years is given. In the first years after planting, seedlings adapt to new environmental conditions, starting from the third or fourth year after planting, there is an increasing growth of seedlings, and from 15-20 years, the growth of larch crops is intensified. The characteristics of the vegetation in the area of artificial reforestation and in the control are given. For twenty years, significant changes in the vegetation cover have been traced: from meadow-forb to forest vegetation. The materials of the article can be the basis for the development of the most promising technologies for reforestation in the permafrost zone and will make it possible to achieve high-quality reforestation during artificial and combined reforestation in the light of recent changes in forest legislation.

This study provides biological and operational data on the reserves of non-timber forest products in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), which play an important role in this region. The legal framework and system for harvesting and selling non-wood forest products by the population of the region were examined. We propose directions for increasing the volume of harvested non-wood forest food products, which can contribute to social and economic development in the region. This study employs economic and statistical analyses, situational analysis, and sociological research methods. A forecast for the most common wild berries was made based on the average annual yields harvested by all entities engaged in this type of economic activity. Information on the natural and economic conditions for the use of forest product resources and the possible development of regional markets for valuable natural reserves can be applied to regional studies to develop programs for forested areas. The proposed developments can be used to study issues related to the functioning of the regional market for non-timber forest products.

This paper examines the effect of planted spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) stands on changes in the morphological characteristics, composition, and properties of cryogenic meadow–chernozem soils that formed in a cryoarid climate under meadow–steppe vegetation in the vicinity of the City of Yakutsk, the central part of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. It is shown that the initial morphological profile of the virgin soil (Wca–AUca–ABca–BCA–BCca–Cca) has been transformed over a 45-year exposure period into the profile of a forest humus–calcareous soil (O–OH–AJ–ABca–BCA–BC–Cca). The morphological structure of the virgin soil underwent the following changes: the forest litter (O) and litter–humus (OH) horizons formed; the thickness of the seasonally thawing layer decreased from 123 to 102 cm; and the 10% HCl effervescence depth, which indicates the presence of mobile carbonates (CaCO3 and MgCO3) in the soil, increased to 26 cm from the surface. In addition to the morphology, the composition and properties of the humus–calcareous soil have also changed significantly in comparison with the initial meadow–chernozem soil. The pH values of soil–water extracts from the AJ and ABca horizons of the humus–calcareous soil decreased by 1.0–0.7, respectively. The total amount of exchangeable bases (Ca+2 and Mg+2) increased in the 0-to 100-cm layer of the forest soil by 1.2 times in comparison with the meadow–steppe soil; the total salt content increased by 1.5 times; and the total N content and organic C content increased by 3.2 and 1.7 times, respectively. Concurrently, the amount of mobile carbonates in the secondary soil decreased by 2.9 times. The magnetic and salt profiles of the studied soils, as well as their salinization degrees and chemistry, have also changed, and the initial cryogenic–exudational water regime has been transformed into a permafrost, periodically-percolative regime due to the change in the vegetation growing on the studied soils.

Data analysis on the fire occurrence and frequency in Central Yakutia (North-Eastern Russia) has been considered. Calculate the impact of socio-economic and climatic conditions of region on inflammability parameters. A close relationship was found between quantity and density of population and the frequency of fires occurence (0.95–0.99). Not so much negative correlation observed between the amount of precipitation during the fire-dangerous period and the frequency of fire (–0.53). The results of our study relating to the fire impact on microclimatic and soil conditions of the forests of Central Yakutia are brought in the article. Studies have revealed that strong changes microclimate and soil conditions in the burnt areas occur in the first 10 years after the fire. At the young burned out site, soil temperature in average increases in comparison with the forest at a depth of 5 cm in 5.2 ... 5.6 °C, at a depth of 30 cm – in 4.3 ... 6.2 °C, soil moisture – by 1.1–2.3 times in a 1–2-year – fire site, by 1.1–1.7 times in a 10–12-year-old one; seasonally thawed layer thickness is 0.3–0.8 m greater in the burned out areas than in the forest. There is stabilization of the modified conditions in the post-fire period in the course of succession. Essential changes of microclimatic and soil conditions occurring after fires and stabilizing in the progress of succession when fire-sites overgrow with plants have been found. In the burned areas of the Central Yakutia it starts at the age of 20–25 years after the fire.