Forest Phytomass and Carbon in European Russia.

Regression equations for basic fractions of forest phytomass have been developed for the European-Ural part of Russia based on available experimental data and publications (preliminarily examined 962 sample plots and aggregations). 8 main forest forming species (pine, spruce, oak, birch, beech, aspen, alder, lime) which were involved into analysis cover in European Russia about 95% of total forested areas. The equations allow to evaluate the ratio between phytomass fractions weight and growing stock by species, age and site indexes. The application of the equations to the Forest State Account data (1988) gives the total (living) phytomass in forest ecosystems of European Russia (forested area of 166.0 Mha, growing stock of 20.28 bln m3) of 15.47 Pg drt matter (density 9.32 kg/m2). The total carbon pool was estimated 7.64 Pg C with average density 4.60 kg C/m2 in 1988. Analysis of uncertainties of data and used methods showed that the results which based on FSA data probably underestimate real values for about 5% with standard error +/- 7-8% with confidential (apriori) probability 0.8-0.9. Used this assumption unbiased estimate of total storage of phytomass in forest vegetation were calculated for 1993 of 16.94 Pg (average density 10.36 kg/m2 ) and for C content respectively (8.37 Tg and 5.03 kg/m2 repectively). The changes of forest phytomass in 1966-1993 were esimated of 4.73 Pg (or about 174 Tg of dry matter/year) and for C - 2.34 Pg, i.e. the European Russian forests provided during 1966-1993 net sink of carbon in forest vegetation about 87 Tg C annually.

Expanding Forests but Declining Mature Coniferous Forests in Russia

Analyses of aggregated data of the dynamics of Russian forests during the period from 1966 to 1993 have identified a rather stable development of Forested Areas (FA) and growing stock (an increase of 8% and 5%, respectively). Unforested Areas (UFA) have decreased significantly; for example, the total amount of unforested burned areas declined from 68.4 to 31.9 million ha over the period. Average growing stock by age groups increased for all main forest-forming species (excluding mature and overmature coniferous stands). Development in the growing stock in European Russia has been positive, but Asian Russia has experienced a rather severe decline. Studies of the 1983-1993 period show somewhat different results. Official data show that the total growing stock for Russia underwent a serious decline over this period. An adjustment for systematic inventory errors still shows that there has been a substantial decrease in the growing stock in Asian Russia. The decline identified during this latter period cannot be explained by the harvest carried out, but is probably due to disturbances such as forest fires, pest, insects, and anthropogenic activities. From analyses, it can be concluded that the quality of the forests has been seriously impoverished in Russia during the 1966-1993 period. This impoverishment is due to severe local overharvesting in regions with developed infrastructure and to so-called creaming--namely, the harvesting of the best stands of specific species over huge areas. There are still vast areas of unexploited and unmanaged forests in Russia. In spite of serious shortcomings in Russian forest management, the stability of Russian boreal forests and their capacity for natural regeneration seem to be extremely high. Therefore, it may to be premature to speak of "the disappearing Russian forests.

The Ukrainian Forest Sector in a Global Perspective

This paper was prepared for and presented at the so-called IIASA Days in Kiev, Ukraine held on 18-19 March 1999. The paper discusses the possible long-term development of the international forest sector and endeavors to put the Ukrainian forest sector development into this perspective. It is concluded that the niche for development is the low delivered woods costs in Ukraine. It can also be concluded that dramatic reconstruction of the forest industry in Ukraine is required. Even if there is a substantial potential for development there are serious bottlenecks to overcome. These bottlenecks are connected to the existing institutional framework in Ukraine. Without substantial changes in the institutional framework there are limited possibilities for the development of the Ukrainian forest sector