Forest resources

The forest is one of the main national wealth of Belarus, the most important renewable and, if properly used, an inexhaustible natural resource. It satisfies the material needs of society in wood, performs water, soil protection, aesthetic and recreational functions, acts as a regeneration (renewal) of oxygen, obtaining food, regulating the climate, renewing fauna, etc. Of the 31 indicators of quality of life,
(according to UNESCO) 15 is connected with the forest [7, p.67].

The forest fund of Belarus as of 01.01.2000 was 9.09 million hectares and 9.24 million hectares on 01.01.2001 The area of forested land reached 7.85 million hectares, or 86.4% (Table 3.6). For each person in Belarus there are 0.74 hectares of forest, in Russia – 5.2 hectares, Finland – 4.9 hectares, Sweden – 2.5 hectares, USA – 0.9 hectares [7, p.68]. Total timber reserves are estimated at about 1.3 billion m3, which is about 1% of the reserves of the CIS and is equal to the reserves of great Britain, Hungary and Italy combined. The stock of ripe stands as of 01.012001 amounted to 135 million m3. In terms of timber reserves per person (130.4 m3), we lag behind Russia (560.0 m3), Sweden (313.0 m3), Canada (815.0 m3). Despite the fact that these comparative indicators are not in favor of our country, nevertheless, it can be argued that Belarus is rich in forests: timber reserves are twice as high as the European average.

Table 3.6 Resource requirements by component

Forest fund and timber reserves of Belarus **

*Numerator as of 01.01.1994, denominator – on 01.01.2000.

**According to the data, see [7, p. 69]

The average forest cover of Belarus reaches 37.8%, which is close to the optimal value. But in terms of territory, it ranges from 10% (Nesvizh district) to 62% (Lelchitsy district). The main part of the reserves falls on the Gomel, Minsk and Vitebsk regions (62.0%). The forest of Belarus is young (average age 48 years); young animals account for 37%, middle-aged – 44, ripe – 14, ripe and overgrown – 5% of the forested area. As a result, the forest exploitation fund of Belarus is rather limited.

Rich in ripe forests are the Gomel and Vitebsk regions, where their volume is 19.6 and 17.1 million m3. On the territory of Belarus, mainly valuable tree species grow, although their breed composition does not yet correspond to the optimal one: in the breed structure, hardwood forests occupy 3.9%, including oak – 3.7%. Therefore, the area of hardwoods in
1.5-2.0 times less opportunities and economic interests of the state. Soft-leaved species have a large proportion – 30.7%. Conifers predominate – 65.4%, including pine – 54.5%. It should be noted that only the breed structure of the forests of the Grodno region approached the optimal, although the areas of hardwoods here are also insufficient (3.5%).

Intensive exploitation of the forests of Belarus in the past has led to a violation of the age structure, especially of coniferous forests. The area of ripe forests, starting from 1940, sharply decreased, and only after 1973, when the cutting of the calculated cutting stopped, stabilized somewhat. Currently, the area of young animals can be considered optimal, above the normative positions are occupied by middle-aged, insufficiently ripe and ripe forests, although the area of the latter tends to increase.

The forests of Belarus, in accordance with their ecological, economic and social importance and the functions performed, are divided into two groups. The first group consists of forests, which perform mainly water-protective, protective, sanitary-hygienic and health-improving functions (occupy 45.7% of the forest fund area). They are excluded from circulation or have limited economic use.

The second group is formed by economic forests, which, along with ecological, are of operational importance (in the structure of the forest fund occupy 54.3%). In the forests of the second group, a highly productive tree stand is formed, the continuity and inexhaustibility of the use of forest resources is ensured.

Great damage to Belarus was caused by the chernobyl disaster, as a result of which 1.7 million hectares of forest land were contaminated, which accounted for a fifth of the republic’s forests. Logging in these areas is only partially possible, and with a pollution level of 40 ki/km2, it is generally prohibited. Every year, forestry suffers losses of $120.0 million from the consequences of the disaster. USA [6, p.74].

Recently, the  distribution of plantations by age groups has improved significantly: the proportion of young animals – 27.5%; middle-aged – 45.5%; ripe – 19.1%; ripe and overstretched – 7.9%. Average forest indicators improved: the total increase reached 27.4 million m3 per year; increase per 1 hectare of forested area – 3.58 m3, average age – 49 years; stock per 1 ha – 174 m3.

The share of forest resources is 7.2% of the total assessment of natural resources in the national wealth [7, p.84].

However, there are a number of unresolved problems in the country’s forestry. The species composition of forests does not yet correspond to the optimal one. The area of hardwood plantations is 1.5–2.0 times less than the real possibilities. A large percentage of soft-leaved species, uneven woodland. The average reserves per 1 hectare of mature forests, as well as their average completeness, are 50–60% of the optimal ones. The intensity of the use of forest resources is low: about 1% of the total stock and about 50% of the average annual increase. The estimated cutting for the main use is not fully developed: in 2000 and 2001 it was underdeveloped by 1.6 and 2.2 million m3, respectively.

The overall strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of forest resources in the country should be based on compliance with the following principles:

multi-purpose, continuous, sustainable and relatively uniform forest management of wood, side products (mushrooms, berries, nuts, etc.) and other forest benefits; preservation and strengthening of environment-forming, protective, sanitary-hygienic and other natural utilities of the forest; reproduction, improving the species composition and quality of forests, increasing their productivity, protecting and protecting forests; rational use of forest fund lands; preservation of the gene pool of forests, their biological and landscape diversity.

To implement these principles already in 2004-2005 it is necessary:

expand the use of non-continuous felling and bring their volumes to 20% by 2005; ensure the introduction of renovation fellings in ripe and overgrown plantings in which felling of the main use is prohibited; to bring the ratio of volumes of artificial and natural renewal to 55:45, respectively, and to increase the share of hardwoods in the total volume of reforestation to 10%.

In 2006-2010, sustainable forestry development should be guided by the following criteria:

maintenance and improvement of forest resources; preservation of productive forest functions (woody and non-woody); strengthening the socio-economic functions of forests; improving the economic mechanisms for sustainable forest management.

By 2010, the size of the estimated cutting for the main use of the forest is projected at 8-9 million m3 by 2020 –
12-15 million m3. It is expected to improve the breed composition of the assortments harvested on the fellings of the main use of the forest. Softwood assortments could reach 41%, 46% by 2010 and 52% by 2020. The annual volume of reforestation should correspond to the size of the cutting, where the share of artificial renewal will account for 30-40%. The dynamics of the age structure of forests gives reason to expect a significant increase in total reserves by 2015 – up to 1.4 billion m3, and ripe – up to 185.0 million m3. The proportion of softwoods is projected to rise to 73% and the proportion of softwoods to 22%, which can be assessed as the recommended optimal structure. According to experts, the cost of forest resources amounted to 18775.3 million dollars. USA (Table 3.7). A significant expansion of international hunting tourism is envisaged. Revenues from it by 2020 should increase to $ 1 million. UNITED STATES.

Table 3.7 Resource requirements by component

The cost of forest resources of Belarus, million dollars. USA**

*I – 10 years; II – 30 years; III – 50 years; IV – 70 years; V – 90 years.

** According to the data, see [7, p. 85]

In general, the state of forest resources, their natural dynamics, the implementation of the proposed strategic areas of activity guarantee the full satisfaction of the needs of Belarus in wood and non-wood forest products, the preservation and strengthening of the ecological functions of the forest, and a significant increase in the country’s export potential.

And although at present the role of forestry in the economy of Belarus is insignificant (it provides only 0.4% of GDP), the above indicates its high environmental and economic potential.

Belarus has a significant potential for biological diversity, which covers the resources of flora (including forest), wildlife, as well as the so-called “non-exploitation” resources of biodiversity – not currently used for industrial, economic or direct consumption.

In total, more than 500 species of plants with useful properties for the national economy are known as part of the resources of the plant world. Their total biological reserve by mass is estimated at more than 1 million tons, but only about 1% is actually used. Mushrooms, berries and fruits have the greatest weight in the preparations, much less – medicinal and technical raw materials.
In 2000, the total weight of harvested plant raw materials was 10.1 thousand tons, of which mushrooms – 40.4%, berries and fruits – 28.3 and 23.2%, respectively. Due to the increase in forest cover in the long term, an increase in harvesting of mushrooms, berries and fruits is expected.

The hunting and commercial species of vertebrates and fish resources are of the greatest economic importance. Currently, resource species of vertebrate animals include 20 species of mammals. 32 species of birds and
1 species of reptiles, and from invertebrates – 2 species. In the long term, with the growth in the number of the main hunting species of mammals, subject to biotechnical and protective measures, it is expected to increase the production of wild boar to 11.4 thousand individuals, elk – 2.5, deer – 0.3, roe deer – 5.5, beaver – 2.3, hare – 85.7 thousand individuals. An increase in the number of feathered game is expected by 20-50%, and it is advisable to maintain the production volumes at the beginning of the summer-autumn hunting season at the level of 2.0-2.5 million individuals. Of the 54 species of fish living in the natural reservoirs of Belarus, 29 species belong to the group of commercial ones. Over the past decades, there has been a downward trend in the catch of some of the most valuable fish species, although in 2001 they stabilized and amounted to
970.2 tons By 2020, the commercial catch of fish from natural reservoirs is estimated at 2.8-3.0 thousand tons.

Non-exploited biodiversity resources constitute a disproportionately large category of living organisms in terms of the number of species compared to the resources used. These species play a certain environment-forming and functional-biocenotic role in maintaining the sustainable existence of the natural environment and, in general, the ecological status of the biosphere. Of the most studied groups for Belarus, more than 7000 species of fungi, 2232 species of algae, 437 species of bryophytes, 477 species of lichens, 1680 species of vascular plants, 462 species of vertebrates and more than 30 thousand species of invertebrates are known.

The Red Book of the Republic of Belarus serves the purpose of protecting rare and endangered species of animals and plants, which includes 105 species of vertebrates and 85 species of invertebrates, 173 species of higher plants and 101 species of lower plants and fungi.

The leading role in the conservation of biological diversity of Belarus belongs to specially protected natural areas (PAs). The natural reserve fund of the country as of January 1, 2004 includes: “Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve”
(80.9 thousand hectares); 4 national parks – “Belovezhskaya Pushcha”
(87.4 thousand hectares), “Braslav Lakes” (69.1), “Pripyat” (82.3) and “Narochansky” (94 thousand hectares); 97 reserves of republican significance (841.3 thousand hectares) and 456 – local significance (309.7 thousand hectares); 337 natural monuments of republican and 572 – local significance. In the zone of influence of the Chernobyl disaster, the Polesie Radiation and Ecological Reserve operates, which performs specific functions and is not included in the network of protected areas. The total area of specially protected natural areas is 1.7 million hectares, or 8% of the country’s territory. By 2020, it is expected to increase the area of protected areas to 9-10% of the country’s territory.