Table of contents

2019 Conference "Forests of Russia: policy, industry, science and education" was organised by Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University and was held in Saint Petersburg, Russia from May 22 to 24, 2019.

The volume contains articles based on the results of research in forest regeneration, forestry, forest inventory and management, forest protection, mechanical and chemical processing of wood and non-wood forest products, and forest law and economics. The results obtained in the course of research were discussed at the IV scientific and technical conference "Forests of Russia: Policy, Industry, Science, Education", which was held on May 22-24, 2019 in St. Petersburg State Forest Technical University.

The presented articles provide data on new methods for obtaining planting material for artificial forest regeneration and new ways of creating and caring for forest plantations. An assessment of the impact of various silvicultural measures on the productivity and quality of forests has been made. Existing methods of quantitative and qualitative assessment of forests have been analysed and new and more accurate methods for studying forests using unmanned aerial vehicles have been proposed. New methods for the identification of pathogenic microorganisms that affect the biological stability of forests have been proposed, and a technology has been developed to protect forests from pests. Fire safety of forests has been analysed and fundamentally new approaches have been proposed including preventive fireproof treatment of forests and the creation of fire-resistant breaks. Non-destructive methods to assess wood quality and fundamentally new methods of drying sawn timber have been discussed. New technologies of chemical processing of wood waste and forest products for the production of medicinal and agricultural products have been proposed. Existing methods of the economic assessment of forest stands and forest products have been analysed, and a method for their improved assessment has been developed. Forest legislation and forest relations in the Russian Federation have been analysed, and ways to optimise and improve them have been proposed.

All published articles are of undisputable scientific and practical interest for scientists and specialists on forest, woodworking and wood chemical industry.

I am very grateful to the authors of the published articles, and I would like to thank Ph.D. M. Lobovivikov, Professor A. Alekseev, Associate Professor E. Kuznetsov, Professor A. Chubinsky, Professor D. Ponomarev, Associate Professor I. Melnichuk, Professor V. Neshataev, and Associate Professor E. Khitrov for editing these articles.

Vice-rector on scientific work,

Candidate of Technical Sciences Vasily Gedyo

All papers published in this volume of IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science have been peer reviewed through processes administered by the proceedings Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal published by IOP Publishing.

Abstracts. The Botanical Garden of the Saint Petersburg Forest Technical University was established in 1827. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Russia. It is also the first botanical garden in the country, which was created for educational purposes. The collection of woody plants includes over 1600 taxonomic units, about 4000 open-field flower crops, some 1300 tropical and subtropical plants. Cataloging of the collection since 2018 is based on modern classifications based on molecular studies (APG, PPG, etc.). This internationally recognized plant classification approach is necessary to organize collections, publications, and enhance standardization of the university education.

Comparative anatomical studies conducted in provenance trial plantations and natural pine forests to study the anatomy of the needles and identify anatomical variability have helped to obtain the data on the formation peculiarities of vegetative shoot organs, on the variability and persistence of structural features, ways of adaptive evolution. Studies of Scots pine provenance trial plantations from the zone of deciduous forests, southern forest-steppe and dry steppe have made it possible to note that morphological and anatomical structure of the needles changes to local ecotypes. Thus, structural adaptation of assimilation apparatus to new growing conditions occurs. It determines the productivity and stability of tree stands, the duration and intensity of growth of all plant organs in general.

Currently, ionization is widely used in various areas where it is necessary to clean indoor air and the therapeutic effects of negative ions on living organisms. The use of aeroionization as a method of accelerated film formation of wood-based paintwork is the application of a well-known solution in a new way and has a novelty. The mechanism of film formation acceleration of paintwork coatings of wood is theoretically described and the effect of aeroionization on the film formation kinetics is experimentally confirmed.

In the article results of experimental plantation assessment and inventory made by UAV are presented. Plantation parameters such as the area, the length of the rows with planted trees, number of planted trees and trees heights was assessed both on ground and remotely. The aim of the research was to estimate systematic and random errors of estimations done by remote sensing method. The high resolution aerial photograph of the plantation established by 1997 was done by Geoscan 101 UAV. PhotoScan software was used for photogrammetric treatment of the obtained image. Multilevel special GIS was developed for plantation parameters calculations. As a result of the plantation parameters measurements made by remote sensing and ground method the following systematic and random errors was revealed: row length – systematic error as much as -6.9 meters, random 7.39 meter; trees height – systematic error as much as 0.4 meter, random 1.24 meter; number of trees – no any error. Taken into account the accuracy of used on UAV GPS positioning device which is as much as ±10 meter and also accuracy of ground measurements which was as much as ±5 meter we may conclude that remotely determined by using UAV plantation parameters are enough accurate and precise.

In the present article, we discuss fire extinguishing agents used for complex inhibition of surface fires. We demonstrate the reduction in organic combustible volatile products by 2.5-3 times with a simultaneous increase in the yield of the reaction water. To determine the composition of volatile fractions responsible for combustion we used chromatography. The results of field tests are presented.

Conducted variations of landscape felling in conditions of increased recreational load are new and optimal. They bring more improved concepts to the theory and practices of landscape felling. The developed variations of landscape felling in protective forests are suitable in stands of natural and woodland parks.

In the face of the global economy, the issue of the rational and cost-effective use of the available natural resources is growing more and more relevant. The international community has every reason to be worried. In particular, there is the threat of a significant degradation of the world's forests, alongside a loss of unique biological systems, biodiversity and ecological situations. Amid the existing economic crisis, much less attention is being paid to this issue due to the lack of financial opportunities for particular states. However, Russia should pay special attention to these issues, as the country's forests occupy vast areas. Given this situation, there are unlimited possibilities for the industrial harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), which can additionally bring an additional and significant amount of money to the state budget. These funds can then be allocated for addressing the economic and environmental problems of our modern society.

The article summarizes the multi-year results of research of the Far Eastern forests restoration problem and their effective use in the present-day conditions. The forests of the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia are of great economic, social and ecological importance. At the end of the XX century intensive forest use with predominance of continuous concentrated felling in multi-forest areas of the region, wood fires, development of mineral deposits led to depletion of forests, reduction of their qualitative composition and productivity. In addition, natural regeneration of cutover stands does not always ensure their afforestation. It can occur slowly with the change of economically valuable conifers and hardwoods by soft-leaved, undesirable trees and bushes. Therefore, one of the main tasks in forest reproduction is timely and high-quality reforestation, including artificial forest regeneration using innovative technologies. In this regard, the aim of the research is to develop the scientific bases of reforestation in the Far Eastern forests under modern conditions to develop innovative proposals for improving their state.

The obtained results from the study undertaken on the composition of plant species and forest vegetation in Dong Nai Reserve indicated a record of 864 species, 479 genera and 146 families that belongs to the four divisions of vascular plants. These includes: Lycopodiophyta, Polypodiophyta, Pinophyta and Magnoliophyta. Useful plants of 864 taxonomy species listed consists of 540 species of medicinal plants, 157 species of timber plants, 88 species of edible plants, 40 species of ornamental plants, 18 species of industrial plants, 15 species of fiber plants and 6 species of unknown use plants, respectively. During the duration of investigation, Cissus modeccoides Planch. and Goniothalamus vietnamensis Ban. were newly recorded in the forest vegetation of Dong Nai Reserve. One of the recorded species, named Goniothalamus vietnamensis is endangered medicinal plants in Vietnam. A variety of forest vegetations in the area under study is described. In this study, four major vegetation types of forest were identified in Dong Nai Reserve.

At present, in world science and practice, hybridization is considered to be one of the promising areas, which allows obtaining material with planned and properties. There was a need to use modern methods of mathematical processing to evaluate the prospects of some variants of crossing, dividing the total phenotypic variability into genetic and ecological. The results suggest the need to continue work on hybridization, taking into account the results obtained over the past 50 years of work on breeding, seed production and for crosses to use created from the offspring of plus trees in the region of maple, elm, which have been tested by natural selection in artificial and natural plantations of the South-East of the European part of Russia in recent decades. For reproduction of the obtained high-value breeding material to use breeding greenhouses and technology «in vitro». We believe that population selection can also be promising, and both natural and artificial populations can be used, in the biocenosis of which two or three seed generations of this species are present. At the final stage, it is necessary to create hybrid forest seed plantations from the material obtained.

The article investigates risk management components and specific industry risks of forest management. The risk management model is offered in forestry on the basis of the managed parameter.

The article describes the results of the analysis of morphometric parameters of a leaf plate (leaf plate area, the mass of one leaf in completely dry state, mass of 1 cm² of leaf in completely dry state) and the fruits of large-fruited apple cultivars in the V. Krutovskiy Botanical Garden. A significant positive correlation was found for winter apple cultivars between the number of leaves on the annual sprout and the mass of fruits. The obtained results can be used when conducting a preliminary determination of the expected yield of apple trees. It has been established that the varietal belonging of an apple tree influences the ecological efficiency and productivity of an apple orchard. The cultivars acknowledged perspective on the characteristics studied are recommended to use for creating apple orchards in the given and similar climatic conditions.

The description of model of optimization of processing of the diverse space distributed data is provided in work. Approach to implementation of consolidation of information from different sources is considered. The control algorithm of diverse data taking into account filtering of fragments of all arrays of information is provided. Key information and technical aspects of application of model of processing of diverse geodata for the solution of tasks of management of forestry are described.

The formation of a landscape gardening complex in St. Petersburg has a long and rich history, due to which the methods and traditions of garden and park management have been developed. The specifics of the activities of enterprises is the seasonality of the work and the delayed result in time. In the modern economy there is a need to regulate the forms of ownership of landscape gardening and the modes of their financing. Due to the annually increasing competition in the market, the increasing demands on the quality of life on the part of residents of megalopolises, there is a need for financial planning of enterprises in decision-making and in the analysis of the enterprisewhen finding a potential buyer of services or their supplier when determining a reasonable transaction price.

The article considers peculiarities of the urban environment, factors of negative influence on soils and green plantations which should be treated in landscape and urban planning process. The basic properties of urban soils, their pollution by heavy metals, pesticides benzo(a)pyrene are highlighted. The general requirements to the urban soils for creation of green plantings in megacities are formulated.

Preservation and study of forest plant species diversity is one of the fundamental challenges of modern botany, genetics, and dendrology. Genetic structure determines variability and controls adaptation mechanisms, letting every population adapt to environmental conditions. The most topical issue is genetic study of valuable forest species to ensure their integrity, specific identification, and control over wood origin. One of such environmentally and economically important coniferous species in our country is larch (Larix). Currently, there is a problem to use azonal larch species for reforestation in Russia, particularly in the Russian Far East. In this regard, selection of genetic markers that let us detect differences between Larix gmélinii Rupr. and Larix sibírica Ledeb. and their subspecies is a crucial and relevant task.

In this article sowing qualities of Pinus Sibirica seeds are studied as well as the effectiveness of various germination stimulants. The seeds were collected in various regions of growth, such as Novosibirsk, Republic of Tyva and St. Petersburg's Botanical garden of Peter the Great. Also, strobil biometrics and digital x-ray analysis of seeds are presented. The results of application of 6 different stimulators of seed germination according to their absolute and soil germination, germination dynamics, growth biometric indicators are presented as well.

The article considers the multioperational felling-bunching machine proposed by the authors, the one equipped with an accumulating head (AH) and a bunching device. The MFBM is designed for felling small-diameter trees in the accumulation mode and processing small-diameter trees into bunches. The diameter of the bunches is 0.1-0.2 m with the length of 6 m. Compacted bunches can be transported by forwarders and timber carriers as ordinary assortments. The MFBM effectiveness was studied on mathematical models using simulation methods for two modes of machine operation. The first mode of the MFBM operation is performed without combining tree bunching with moving the machine between work sites and accumulating trees in the AH. The second mode includes combining these operations. For comparison, simulation experiments were carried out using a conventional LP-19 FBM. The LP-19 FBM performance when felling small-diameter trees with a volume of 0.046 m³ drops by almost 10 times as compared with felling trees with a volume of 0.4 m³. The MFBM performance in all modes and similar working conditions turned out to be 2-3 times as high compared to the LP-19 FBM performance. When felling small-diameter wood, the MFBM shows the highest performance in the mode of combining operations. The MFBM performance in this mode with an average volume of a small-diameter tree of 0.046 m³ and the number of trees on the site being 8 pcs. turned out to be three times as high compared with the LP-19 FBM.

Abstracts. The results of thermal analysis of sound and burnt birch wood samples were compared. An attempt was made to establish a connection between the type of the TG, DTG and DSC curves and the mechanism of wood pyrolysis. The dependence of the exothermic effect of the pyrolysis process on the oxygen content in the original wood is shown.

This paper discusses the applgication of vibration, in particular torsional vibrations in the creation of machines for the uprooting of entire trees with the root system. However, the use of vibration can be effective only if the correct frequency response is selected depending on the frequency characteristics of the tree and the mechanism. On the basis of the created mathematical model, the spectrum of resonance frequencies of torsional vibrations of the tree is determined. The obtained results make it possible to select the frequency characteristics of the vibration device depending on the parameters of the tree.

The article presents the research results of seed germination of woody and shrubby introduced species. Depending on the depth of dormancy, the studied plant species were divided into 3 groups. The first group includes plants with the absence of dormancy or with a short dormancy; the seeds of these species do not need stratification. The second group includes plants whose seeds are in a state of a rather long intermediate physiological dormancy; they need cold stratification. The organic dormancy period of plant seeds of the second group is different – from 25 to 160 days. As a rule, these are plants with a well-formed seed bud. The physiological dormancy of the seed bud and the inhibitory effect of its covers can be an obstacle to its formation. The third group includes plants whose seeds may not germinate for several years. As a rule, the seeds of these plants are in a state of a deep physiological or morphophysiological dormancy; multi-stage stratification is recommended for their germination. The introduced species of the third group are the most difficult to study since their seeds can belong to different variants of deep dormancy, which combines the physiological immaturity of different structures of the seed bud with the incomplete morphological maturity and exogenous dormancy.

The infrastructure on forest land plays an important role in cadastral valuation of forest land.The existing methods of cadastral valuation of forest land did not take into account forest infrastructure.The construction and operation of forest infrastructure facilities on forest land is necessary for the use, protection, conservation and reproduction of forest resources.Russia has over 20% of the world's forest reserves, which occupy more than two thirds of its territory.At the same time, the real contribution of forest land to the country's economy has not yet corresponded to the potential of the forest fund.The share of the Russian Federation in world timber trade is about 4%.The contribution of the forest complex to the country's GDP is about 0.5%, the number of people employed in this area is 0.8% of those working in the economy, and no more than 30% of the harvested wood is produced.Of particular importance for improving the efficiency of use and intensification of forest reproduction is forest infrastructure, the presence and density of forest roads for various purposes.

For the manufacture of plywood and chipboard are used urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde hot curing adhesives. When it is necessary to reduce the content of toxic substances, to increase the strength and reliability of gluing, other properties of adhesive bonding heat urea and phenol-formaldehyde resins are modified. Urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins were used for research. Urea-formaldehyde resin was modified with technical lignosulfonates with particle sizes of 0.01-0.2 mm, shungites with particle sizes of 0.2-0.8 mm, black shales with particle sizes of 0.005-0.2 mm and aluminosilicates with particle sizes of 0.2 - 0.8 mm. Phenol-formaldehyde resin was modified with pectol, black shales with particle sizes of 0.005-0.2, technical lignosulfonates with particle sizes of 0.01-0.2, and cold sludge from aluminum production with particle sizes of 0.01-0.2. A comparative analysis revealed that all the modifiers under study improve the physicochemical parameters of urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins, increase the performance properties of glued materials from wood. Plywood was tested for shear strength over the adhesive layer and for the content of free formaldehyde in accordance with Russian standards. Modification of urea and phenol-formaldehyde resins with the proposed substances increases the strength of plywood, at the same time reducing the free formaldehyde content in products.

The article focuses on the question of temporary logging roads' studying as real estate items. The relevance of research is proved by need of effectivization of land and forest resources use while road infrastructure seating. Strategic aim of research is advanced technology development of compartment description of temporary logging roads. The main research objectives are: economic importance definition of temporary logging roads, uncovering geographical and climatic conditions providing possibility of road's functioning, reviewing methodological approach of their accounting and systematization. Today there is no system concept of problem solving as relating to transport infrastructure on forest lands. Land law doesn't properly regulate construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure, and lessee's rights who are engaged in construction and operation of temporary logging roads under terms of forest lands' lease are not defined. Besides, seasonal temporary logging roads are not included into the list of regional or local roads and they are not presented in area planning schemes. Therefore, problem solution demands further scientific and methodical development.

The article is devoted to the study of the institutional arrangements for the development of forest-covered territories of Russia. The subject of the research is the current institutional system that regulates economic relations in forest management in Russia. The structural institutional elements of this system are the ownership of forest resources; forest certification and formation of forest payments. The purpose of the study is to assess the state of the institutional arrangements governing the forest management system and the economic relations in this institutional system; substantiation of the mechanisms for establishing effective models of forestry development. The methodology is based on the provisions of the institutional theory, sustainable development and the theory of rent. Research tools include institutional analysis, quantitative and qualitative sociological methods. The empirical footing is formed by the results of many years of comprehensive economic and sociological research of forest areas of the Republic of Karelia in 1998-2018 (public opinion polls; interviews with forest service specialists, local and regional authorities, heads of forest companies), research materials from Russian and foreign scientific schools and official websites. A descriptive analysis of the problems encountered by various forest policy stakeholders relations is offered.

The problem of construction of forest roads with the use of local low-strength substandard materials and industrial waste is considered. To solve the problem, the primary task is to develop a method for estimating the parameters of road surfaces taking into account the conditions of uncertainties in the data. This technique allows us to reasonably clarify some of the regulatory parameters and improve the technology of construction of forest roads, which was the goal of the work. To formalize the task, experimental studies were performed and on the basis of these results, the statement of the task of fuzzy derivation of the function for estimating the bearing capacity of the coating was performed. The synthesis of the output function is performed by means of Matlab.

Value of forest ecosystems' natural potential is examined as composition of forest resources (timber and non-timber forest products) as natural capital. Also, value is examined as composition of environment-forming and social functions of forest objects as part of ecological potential of forest areas. Regional (national) richness includes all natural resources, all tangible and intangible assets made by nature and humanity in this region. By calculation results, value of forest resources (natural capital of forest ecosystems) is about 12-16% of total value of forest site for commercial forests of Middle Ural. Value of ecological potential is about 84-88% of total. It grows to 92-96% for protection forests. Natural potential of forest ecosystems is comparable to production potential of agriculture, mining or power generation.

Using the example of crowns of Ulmus glabra Huds. individuals of the virginal age state, the structure of biennial shoots systems (BSS), the occurrence of different types of them in the crown as a whole and in its different parts are analyzed. Identified features of the structure of the maternal shoot for three functionally different types of BSS: Filling-up, Growth, Basic and Narrow-Outline and Super-growth. Comprehensive analysis of morphology of the maternal axis and lateral shoots revealed the characteristics and enabled us to construct a discriminant function significantly separating the three types of BSS. The predictive accuracy of its classification by sample values is 94 percent. Special zones are identified on the maternal shoots of Growth and Basic BSS, which determine their difference and similarity. The fact that such zonality of the maternal shoot is determined only in the second year of his life corresponds to the idea of BSS as a single module of space-time aggregation in tree crown.

A new approach to the study and description of the process of thermal destruction of wood when heated in an inert environment (torrefication and pyrolysis) is presented. Dependencies for determining the sequence of changes in the ultimate analysis of wood at the destruction process are proposed. Dependencies for determining the calorific value and volatile matter for the solid phase as a function of the ultimate analysis, as well as for determining the ultimate analysis and calorific value of volatile matter are proposed. A possibility of extending the method to other fuels of plant origin (straw, peat, coal) is shown. It has been suggested that standard methods do not accurately determine the moisture content of wood.

Currently, cross-cutting continuous flow lines with longitudinal or transverse feeding of tree-length are used in the forest industry. The currently used equipment requires improvement or replacement due to the rapid development of automation and increased quality requirements for roundwood assortments. We propose a method for modelling technological movements performed when bucking tree-lengths, using lines with a longitudinal feed as an example; the method is based on matrix transformations of coordinates. The modelling process is preceded by a structural analysis. We suggest that such analysis should be carried out for each structural unit of the bucking line due to the specificity of the subject of labour and equipment created with the special properties of the object of labour (tree-lengths, whole trees) in mind. This will allow us to demonstrate the influence of the properties of the object of labour (tree-lengths, whole trees) on the technological process model.

The logic of development of economic knowledge, changes in its theoretical and methodological grounds are considered in the context of the philosophical analysis of the transformation of the general scientific cognitive strategies. The heuristic value of using of established in post-non-classic science socio-cultural approach to analysis of the study object in investigations of the essence of the economic reality and the human place in it justifies. In this connection, analyzes the evolution of the cultural context of the development of science, its influence on different epochs scientific world views, the concept of world view in the economy as a reflection of the particular reality introduces. The important role of the fundamental principles of modern scientific rationality – hierarchical system organization of the Universe, Synergetics, Anthropologism, Global evolutionism and society-nature Co-evolution is emphasized. Attention is drawn to the renaissance of the interest in holistic, qualitative approach to the world in late 20 - early XXI centuries science, including socio-management strategies, after several centuries of domination by quantitative methodology.

For the first time, graphitized fibers from Lyocell cellulose precursors spun from solutions prepared via the solid-phase dissolution method in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide were obtained. Carbonization was performed up to processing temperature of 2400 °C. Comparative studies of cellulose precursors and carbon fibers, carried out by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray and thermal analysis, allowed us to establish the structural-morphological features and thermophysical properties of carbon fibers. It is shown that graphitized fibers consist of randomly arranged regular lamellae of graphite-like layers. Using transmission electron microscopy, the interplanar distance between the layers (d₀₀₂) was estimated to be ∼ 0.341 nm. Graphitization of the fibers leads to content of carbon ∼99.75% and oxygen ∼0.25% and to reach the tensile strength up to 1.5 GPa.

The study presents the large-scale assessment relating to the volume of coarse woody debris (CWD), i.e. standing dead trees, downed wood and stumps, in the forests of the Russian Federation. The results of the quantitative estimation of the stocks of snags, downed wood and stumps based on direct field measurements in 27,403 SFI (State Forest Inventory) permanent sample plots that are representative for 15 forest regions. The average total volume of woody detritus is estimated to be 29.22±9.7 m³/ha. The snags makes up 40.3%, downed wood – 55.3%, and stumps – 4.4% of the total CWD. The volume of above- and on-ground woody detritus to average live wood volume ratio is estimated to be 14.6±4.4%, including 5.82±1.8% for standing dead trees, 8.15±3.1% for downed wood and 0.67±0.4% for stumps. The highest volumes of woody detritus on average were found in the forest-steppe zone of European Russia, coniferous and broadleaved forests of the Far East and European Russia, and mountainous forests of South Siberia. The advantages of using the qualitatively new information acquired from SFI materials, for the more exact estimation of the volumes of the above - and on-ground woody detritus have revealed.

The study of the regeneration processes on the postagrogenic lands in different landscape conditions of the North-West region was carried out. The main factors for the successful regeneration of spruce and pine on postagrogenic lands are the distance to the source of seeds and the amount of deciduous tree-shrub species. The significant influence on the regeneration of tree species on the sandy postagrogenic lands has a pyrogenic effect. Depending on the landscape characteristics, the process of forming the species composition of the stand will have its own succession line of development. The growth of spruce and pine in most plots is more intensive than on the lands of the forest fund. It is necessary to regulate the regeneration processes of economically valuable species in order to involve the postagrogenic lands in economic circulation.

To improve the quality of the design of a forestry machine-tractor unit (MTU), it is necessary to develop and use various methods for assessing the operational efficiency of MTU, which is particularly relevant at the design stage. The manuscript examines the influence of the parameters of a forestry MTU on the hourly fuel consumption of a diesel engine. The speed of movement of the MTU was chosen as an operational parameter, and the suspension rigidity was chosen as a design parameter. In ploughing mode, diesel fuel consumption per hour is determined for dynamic loads by component: from resistance when moving up-hill; from the dynamics of the soil layer turn-over by the plough; from MTU inertial forces; from oscillations of the MTU suspension in the longitudinal-vertical plane; from mechanical losses in friction pairs of the engine, as well as its total value for different values of suspension stiffness. The maximum values of the total dynamic component of the hourly fuel consumption in ploughing mode are observed at frequencies close to 2.5 s^-1, that is, close to its own energy-consuming frequency of oscillations of the rotational speed of the crankshaft of the SMD-20T.04 engine. To improve the fuel efficiency of an MTU diesel engine, it is necessary to introduce a correction device into the design of a high-pressure fuel pump (HPP). As a corrective device, it is advisable to use an oscillation damper of the rail of the fuel pump (RFP). The vibration damper is used to reduce the amplitude of oscillations of the rail and the negative effect of the hydrodynamic force on the quality of the speed control process. Its advantage lies in the fact that, while damping, it reduces the effect of hydrodynamic force during fuel cut-off and, to a lesser extent, provides resistance when moving RFP in the direction of increasing the cycle fuel supply.

The article deals with the problems of increasing the efficiency of wood resources processing. It shows the developed methodical approach to increase the processing efficiency. It consists of five stages, which all are disclosed in detail providing examples. Approbation of the proposed approach justifies the expediency of its use and substantial economic benefits for wood processing enterprises.

The article addresses the problem of effective management of forest industry cluster. Cluster is a promising organizational form in the industry. However, creating a cluster is a difficult task. The article shows the need to create a single governing body. The principal structure of the cluster and its main elements are highlighted.

The composition of triterpene alcohols and sterols in the fraction of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ldb.) conifer needles is considered in paper. The needles areextracted with propan-2-ol; resinous substances are extracted with petroleum ether (40–70°C);substances extracted with petroleum ether are divided into free acids and neutral substances. Neutral substances are separated in a silica gel column; eluent - petroleum ether supplemented with diethyl ether. The isolated esters fraction is hydrolyzed with potassium hydroxide in ethanol, and the "bound" acids are separated from unsaponifiable substances. Non-saponified substances are separated by chromatography into 5 fractions of phytosterols, the alcohol components of esters. The fractions are acetylated; the alcohol acetates are separatedonsilica gel with added silver nitrate. The isolated compounds was identified by NMR and GC-MS methods. Cycloartenol (6.82%, hereafter based onunsaponifiable substances), 24-methylenecycloartanol (6.75%), citrastadienol (7.69%), sitosterol (7.18%), cycloevcalenol (0.09%) are identified, obtussifoliol (0.01%), 24-methylenelophenol (0.10%), methyllophenol (1.84%) and campesterol (0.33%).

Different variants of technological chain can be organized in logging process. Water or land types of transport can be used for transportation of timber. The use of timber landings where wood can be processed also increases the number of multiple variants of technological process. Performance of operations in various natural and production environment differs in productivity and material costs. Production efficiency depends on the choice of technology of logging operations in dynamic natural and production environment. The given research suggests the variant of the grapho-analytical model for solution of the set task. Detailed graphic models of transportation of wood from logging unit to consumer, loading /unloading and processing operations at the intermediate and lower timber landing are developed. They show possible options of technological chains of logging process. Mathematical dependences are shown on the basis of the problem of finding the maximum flow of minimum cost in the suggested dynamic network. They define the conditions for solution of the set problem.

In connection with the World Cup in 2018 in the Russian Federation, including the qualifying matches of the World Championship in Yekaterinburg, the Government of the Sverdlovsk Regiondecided to place a training ground on the territory of the "Park-stadium Khimmash". For this purpose, a sports field reconstruction project was created and implemented. The article is devoted to the assessment of negative consequences for plantings of the "Park-stadium Khimmash" in Yekaterinburg as a result of the construction, which led to the destruction of 388 trees, 95 of them are pine trees. The park historically originated on the site of a natural pine plantation. Cutting down so many trees led to further disintegration of the stand. According to the project, the replacement of felled large park trees of pine and birch by willow and apple trees is recommended, which led to the destruction of natural landscapes that have survived in the urban environment. At the same time, not only the aesthetic perception is worsened, but the ecological criteria of the industrial area of the city are also reduced. First of all, the oxygen-producing possibilities of the plantation decreased, which is reflected in the economic assessment of the consequences.

Growth rate tables (GRT) used by the forest industry, as a rule, are built according to yield class and have a utilitarian focus. Based on forest inventory data, we built multidimensional models and GRTs for oak (Querqus robur L.) stands for 10 types of forest growing conditions, reflecting the dynamics of forest inventory indicators depending on the age and basal area of stands, and the abundance of oak in the overall species composition. The obtained GRTs in the age range of 10-300 years, for the basal area in the range of 0.3-1.0 and the share of oak in the overall species composition of 1-10 units, can be used in surveys of oak stands based on the measurements of the average heights, diameters and sums of cross-sectional areas.

The article discusses the techniques, methods and results of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. soil germination determination. Two batches of seeds collected from plants in various places of growth during introduction (Botanical gardens of Sochi and Sukhumi) were studied. The seeds' under snow storage, stratification in a refrigerator with the subsequent sowing of seeds in open ground was carried out. After stratification of seeds from Sukhumi their soil germination increased from 11.1% to 18.5%, i.e. almost 1.7 times. It was noted that the soil germination of Eucommia ulmoides seeds is directly depended on their mass while the seeds' sizes were of subordinate importance.

The article describes the probability of the Dendrolimus sibiricus outbreaks in the Khabarovsk region based on the methodology developed by ARRISMF (All-Russian Research Institute of Silviculture and Mechanization of Forestry). The history of outbreaks, their occurrence and intensity were analyzed. Results of field studies with direct census methodsand reasonable forecast for 2019 are also described.

Over a long period of time, an extensive network of permanent growth plots covering the main plantations variety has been created in the educational-experimental forest area. Periodic observations at these sites provide detailed information about the growth of stands, the magnitude of growth and mortality. In the process of work the value of the annual natural mortality in Piceetum oxalidosum and Piceetum myrtilosum by component breeds, as well as in the whole of stands, was determined; studied the structure of mortality; the reduction numbers of trees of mortality are determined by diameter, height and volume. The data obtained during the study can be used to determine the size of a selectable part of tree stands during improvement cutting to clarify the available tables of growth.

The work presents innovative development issues in the Forest industry of Irkutsk province. The development of the regional innovation system is suggested for sustainable Forest industry management. The key components of which are technological, product, institutional, and ecological innovations, as well as, innovative entrepreneurship. The main hypothesis stated is the assumption that analysis and evaluation of effectiveness of innovations and institutional changes is an important tool for strategic planning of the innovative development of the Forest industry. The cross-sectional regression models are presented for evaluation of innovations in the Forest industry based on the expert's opinions, derived via direct questionnaires. The prospective directions of institutional changes in the Forest industry and program of innovative and institutional changes are suggested for implementation.

Urbanization is the main form of human adaptation to the environment. The increase in the area of urban areas and the level of development of urban areas is an objective reality at the present stage. Vladikavkaz in this regard is no exception. The purpose of the study is to analyse the dendroflora of urbanized areas using the city of Vladikavkaz as an example. The studywas conducted in 2012-2018 in the city of Vladikavkaz. The study recorded about 60,000 trees belonging to 50 species. The studied trees were part of common and restricted use green areas: green ribbons along central streets including plots attached to shopping and administrative centres, as well as the largest parks, boulevards, and public gardens of the city of Vladikavkaz. We established that the species composition on the territory of Vladikavkaz is quite diverse; however, prerequisites exist for its expansion, which would improve the ecological situation in the city.

The ribbon forest zone of Altai Krai is located in the Kulunda Steppe and on the Priobskoye Plateau. The climate of this region is characterized by extreme aridity. Due to the harsh climate and the importance of the ribbon forests for the environmental sustainability of the region, artificial reforestation is an integral part of the regional forest management. Forest stands of artificial origin currently occupy a large area within the ribbon forest zone, as evidenced by forest inventory data. However, due to the fact that surveys are not conducted simultaneously on the whole territory of Altai Krai, and that they miss some of the forest management units, forest inventory data do not provide an up-to-date assessment of artificial reforestation efforts. Our project attempted to update the existing data of forest resource assessments and evaluate the results of artificial reforestation efforts in the ribbon forest zone of Altai Krai. This article presents data on the distribution of the artificially reforested area by predominant species and type of growing conditions, and the distribution of the growing stock of the artificially established stands by age and type of forest growing conditions.

The composition and concentration of hydrophilic extractives in Picea abies needles were studied. The optimal time for harvesting of spruce needles for shikimic acid production was evaluated. The concentration of shikimic acid was ranging from 4.7 mg/g of spruce needles harvested in August to 94.7 mg/g of spruce needles harvested in November.

The article discusses the causes and consequences of excessive soil compaction. Ecological safety of the environment provides for the protection of land resources from potential negative technogenic and anthropogenic impacts. The accumulation of humus decreases due to the increasing compaction of soil. Soil compaction is a type of physical degradation. Soil degradation occurs as a result of excessive pressure. Soil compaction increases erosion. The aim of the study is to develop methods for the effective operation of mechanisms to prevent soil compaction. The negative effects of excessive soil compaction under arid conditions have been analysed. The interaction of working parts with soil should be considered as a process of deformation of a viscoelastic substance. Ways to reduce soil compaction are discussed. Perennial herbs reduce soil compaction. Deep tillage with a chisel reduces compaction by 21%. The maximum pressure of movable parts on soil at a humidity of 18.6-21.7% should not exceed 120-140 kPa. Soil compaction decreases porosity and air permeability. The optimum density of soil is 1.10-1.25 g/cm³, and the critical, not more than 1.35 g/cm³. Stresses decrease due to relaxation. Without treatment, soil density may decrease from 1.40-1.50 to 1.20-1.28 g/cm³. It is necessary to use wide tires and increase the contact patch. With the experimental tires, there is a large contact area (by 3.14%), lower maximum pressure of moving parts on soil (by 3.05%) and a decrease in the normal stress at a depth of 0.5 m (by 0.85%). In this case, the maximum stress does not exceed acceptable values.

This academic paper is devoted to the issue of how to reduce forest fire damage through affecting the fire causes. Forest fire causes are a subject of random probability. Adequate forest management is not possible when there is lack of precise information about when and where a forest fire may occur. When there are no ways and methods to influence the reasons of forest fires occurrence, the likelihood of a wrong decision is directly proportional to the negative consequences of forest fires. The research purpose was to develop mechanisms of risk management taking into account the cause and effect relation between human activities, natural phenomena and occurrence of forest fire. The risk as economic category is the target of the research. The scope of the research encompasses the process of decision-taking in forest management with regards to forest preservation from fires under the conditions of unpredictability. The research was based on a comprehensive approach to the problem and used contemporary regulations of sustainable forest management and global experience in forestry relationship. It was suggested to classify the causes of forest fires in groups. Probability of forest fires occurrence was estimated in accordance with various causes. There was introduced an approach of forest fire risk management based on strategic risk management. The results of the research can be used by scientific institutions, as well as by forestry companies while planning environmental protection measures. The research can proceed towards assessment and forecasting of fire risks in forestry at the national and international levels.

Market relations in Russian forestry started in 1993. That year, new forest law was adopted. This law enshrined the right of the state government to forests. Later on, the forest laws were adopted in 1997 and 2006 and left forests in state ownership. Despite the frequent change of forest laws, forestry faces many challenges: economic, social and environmental. Ways to address these challenges could be found on the basis of analysis and evaluation of the forestry development.

The results of some sixty year researches concerning the pine plantation formation and development on a dried eutrophic-mesotrophic peatland developed by planting are discussed in paper. It is shown that rich peatlands covering millions of forest hectares and subjected to hydroamelioration are promising for accelerated cultivation of high-tonnage plantings. The growing stock is found out to presumably reach 525 m³/ha within 57 year-period of time. No regular thinning is necessary in the process of forest growing, it is only sufficient to remove naturally dried trees.

Study of forest cover disturbance and its driving forces is one of the most significant areas in global environmental change research. Natural factors affecting forest disturbances are among the most significant drivers transforming the earth. Due to this reason remote sensing technologies take an important place in such research. Remote sensing and GIS techniques are widely used for forest cover monitoring under climate change and human impact but the lack of reliable information on forest use changes remains a major challenge of today. The purpose of this paper is a disturbance analysis of forest cover dynamics using remote sensing and GIS technologies. The research covers the changes in forest caused by different types of natural disturbance (forest fires, cutting, windfalls) and socio-economic factors (forestry reforms) in the Middle Volga region of the Russian Federation. This paper discusses the forest cover monitoring technique using satellite information and conducting assessments of forest cover disturbances that can be beneficial for the further research affecting changes over different time scales.

The expenditure-revenue comparison of forestry in market conditions is becoming a pressing issue. For the government, expenditures are tied to forest management costs, and revenue is generated in the form of payments for forest use. At the same time, the target of budget forestry funding is parcels of forest reserve land that are not leased. Forest management within the borders of leased forest lands is carried out by the tenants at their own expense, while continuing to make lease payments. As studies have shown, expenditures for all budget levels of forestry management in the Russian Federation from 2011 to 2017 consistently exceeded revenue from forest use. One of the key problems in Russian forestry is underfunding. Given these conditions, this industry's existing systems of budgeting and revenue increases must be transformed. This paper offers recommendations on how to change the current situation.

The history of the Botanical Garden of St. Petersburg State Forest-Technical University is given. The specialists who participated in the introduction of woody plants since 1841 are listed. The names and quantitative composition of introduced plants are given. Attention is drawn to the individual introduction failures and the reasons for them. The total number of woody plants in the Botanical Garden today is more than 1200 taxa (including subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars). 39 species from the collection are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. The role and place of the Botanical Garden of St Petersburg State Forest-Technical University among the botanical gardens of Russia is noted.

The article presentsoriginal methodology of ecological evaluation of areas based on ecological modes. The know-how is based on evaluation of the following ecological modes: nutrient status (N), water content (W), friability (F), mobility (M), cryolithic zonation (C), flooding (Fl), drainage (Dr), and disturbance (D). It describes ecological areas and ecological optimums for major forest-forming species that comprise forest communities in the European Russian landscapes based on the analysis of environmental properties. The environmental properties of the wood species analysed make it possible to identify the ecotopes of species distribution, explain thestructures of forest communities, and define the types of land facies with ecological modes that may prevent a speciesfrom appearing in the area. The analysed datamakes it possible to define the ecological modes wherea forest speciesgrowunder optimum conditions and achieves the best increment and development.

Successful development of beekeeping, the increased number of beehives and apiaries, as well as high yields of honey and wax are possible only thanks to good and sustainable bee forage. The task of the study was to determine exactly species diversity of melliferous flora in different phytocenosis, to define honey productivity of plant formations in steppe zone of the river Don, bioresource potential and honey supply in different vegetative communities on forest fund lands, to develop the complex of measures, directed to rational and effective use of natural melliferous plants of forest lands. Species composition of nectar bearing vegetation on forest fund lands according to forest and non forest categories is determined. The northwestern part of the region is the richest one, there are more than 1200 plant species,and many of them are melliferous. The southeastern part is poorer in flora.As a result it is defined that there is a huge bioresource forest potential for honey yield in Rostov region. Approximate honey supply on forest fund lands is not less than 6468 tons and the number of beehives is about 54 thousand. One of the most perspective species for bee breeding is black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).

The article deals with the issue of forming a suitable approach for assessing the damage caused by a forest fire in accordance with the Russian Federation Forest Code regulations. The subject of the research is the damage that can be caused by a forest fire. The existing methods of calculating the damage caused by forest fires have been analyzed and so has been the regulatory legal framework in the field of assessing the damage caused to forests by forest fires. None of the existing methodologies fully meets the provisions of the Russian Federation Forest Code Articles 100 and 95. The necessity of a conceptual approach to create a methodology for assessing the potential damage by a forest fire justifies the research rationale. The result of the study is the basis for the formation of a scientifically-based methodology for calculating the damage caused to forests, which is the monetary terms of damage.

A field-based study was performed to broaden our knowledge of Quality loss of birch plywood logs supplied for export and determine the main causes of the quality loss during harvesting and delivery and the ways to eliminate them. The total volume of studied birch plywood logs amounted to 14 281 cubic meters. Are shown ehe some results of the acceptance of plywood logs at the mills in Finland in terms of the types of rejects broken down by suppliers, mills and shipments. The total reject rate in the studied shipments amounted to 9.3%. The volume of birch plywood logs rejected because of mechanical damages to the log (defects) reached 39.2% of the total reject volume. Crookedness of logs was the second most non-permissible defect, which amounted to 18.9% of the total reject volume. Processing defects such as unprocessed branches amounted to 9.9% of total reject volume. Dimension incompliance, namely, undersize diameter (thinning) and short-length log (bolt) amounted to 7.7% and 3.2% correspondingly. Length incompliance was 5.2%. Thus, the high reject rate during harvesting is caused by technical, technological and management factors.

Grinding holds the specific place among other types of machining of wood caused by specific features of the occurring physical phenomena and features of the tool. When processing the mechanical, chemical, thermal, electric and accompanying those phenomena arise a multiple-point cutting tool of preparations from wood or wood materials, naturally. The mechanical phenomena are shown owing to repeated contact of an abrasive paper from the preparation processed by a surface, that is, the fissile sliding friction. These phenomena are followed by a pollution of a cutting tool, including consolidation of space between abrasive grains that reduces operability of an abrasive paper. On the basis of the conducted theoretical researches and the analysis of the removed equations for determination of critical sizes of front corner, thickness of cut and speed of cutting, it is possible to draw conclusion that all listed parameters have significant effect on the size of bearing of the processed material abrasive grain, therefore, and on intensity of emergence of contact collapses. Increase in critical thickness of a cut leads to increase in deformation of near-surface layers of the processed material, and, therefore, and to increase in depth and the number of contact destructions.

An approach to the scheduling of wood harvesting machines is described in the paper. A multicriterial mathematical model with a large number of technical and technological constraints is presented. It is shown that the original problem of wood harvesting machines scheduling is reduced to a generalized traveling salesman problem. An algorithm for solving the problem based on a meta-heuristic algorithm of simulated annealing has been developed. The algorithm was used in decision support system for wood harvesting planning and management "Opti-Wood", developed by Opti-Soft company. The algorithm was numerically tested on several dozens of harvesting plans for a given road network in southern Karelia. A comparative analysis showed that the version with territorial clustering is more preferable, and can be used as a qualitative approximation for obtaining the initial state in this and other metaheuristic methods.

Yenisei Siberia lies within the administrative borders of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and the republics of Khakassia and Tyva; this helps to link forest inventory standards to specific forest areas. Significant variation in environmental conditions across the Yenisei Siberia is caused by the zonal affiliation of its different parts; they fall into one of the following zones: the near-tundra, taiga, forest-steppe, northern and southern mountain ranges. The variety of environmental conditions has resulted in a variety of forest stands that not only supply timber, but also provide environmental services. Despite the almost century-long history of the existence of standards for the valuation of forest resources in Yenisei Siberia, they cannot be considered as complete and perfect.

This study examines the use of GIS-materials of various specifications for the inventories of objects of cultural heritage on the example of the object of federal importance "Kharitonov Palace, XIX century", the city of Yekaterinburg. The paper presents a detailed algorithm for making vegetation inventories in historical garden-park complexes. A comparative assessment of accuracy of the established standards and the developed methods of inventory process is given. As a result of this approach, it was possible to give a comprehensive description of the entire territory of the Kharitonov garden as part of the restoration and biological assessment of the vegetation, landscape and architectural survey, individual plant inventory of cultural heritage object of federal importance "Kharitonov Palace, XIX century".

The systematic analysis of optimizing the producer-consumer structure transportation problem is carried out in paper. It is in demand for the timber industry complex. The well-known minimum transportation cost objective is solved as a static problem using the linear programming method. Due to complicated market development conditions, it is necessary to set up and solve the problem of minimizing transportation time (quick performance) as a dynamic problem. Solving it in general case, the transportation cost may be different from the minimum cost determined by the static problem solution. The dynamic problem solution is based on the carrier's vehicle performance information used for determining the functional time spent per transported product unit. The rational decision making under market conditions is only possible by adopting a compromise obtained on the basis of the multi-criteria optimization theory. The task of determining the compromise area of two-criteria optimization (cost-time minimum ratio) is decided by experts. It is solved using the linear programming method for static and dynamic problems and their linear approximation. To develop a compromise transportation plan becomes the subject of solving the inverse transportation problem. The systemic "producer – transport – consumer" approach is necessary for sustainable timber industry complex development, when the producer-transport system makes up a single production process. Its parameters are determined on the basis of systems theory.

Current standards in the field of self-propelled machinery for forestry require equipping tractor cabins with roll-over protective structures (ROPS). It is necessary to reduce the risk of operator's injuries caused by tractor rollovers or falling trees. This article deals with the way of increasing the energy absorption capacity of forest machine cabin roll-over protective structure. The ability to absorb certain amount of potential energy during deformation is the one of basic requirements to cabin of a forest machine. The risk of injures to the operator is reduced by using energy-absorbing cab support in the construction of roll-over protective structure. The protective effect is attained by plastic strain of cab support elements, that provides operator's protection during an accidental roll-over. The article presents the design of the cab support, describes its functional principle in the event of an emergency

The article presents data on the influence of the conditions of barothermal processing of downly birch (Betula pubescens) wood and its hot pressing on the physico-mechanical properties of the resulting thermo-wood composition. Steam treatment is performed at a temperature of 200° C, the duration of the exposure time in the reactor is from 5 to 600 seconds. Dried samples of hydrolyzed wood were subjected to hot pressing at a temperature of 120 or 140 ° C under pressure of 4.0 and 5.3 MPa. It has been established that an increase in the hardness factor of hydrolysis is accompanied by an increase in the density of the obtained samples of the thermo-wood composition. The dependence of the strength characteristics on the rigidity of the conditions of barothermal treatment is complex, determined by the presence of a point of extremum, after which the strength characteristics begin to decrease. Based on the obtained results, the optimal conditions for obtaining the thermo-wood composition were determined. It is shown that barothermal treatment of birch wood with the purpose to obtain on its basis a thermowood composition with optimal physicomechanical characteristics is expedient under the conditions of a process stiffness factor of 2000. .. 2500 minutes.

The goal of the study was to classify the forest sites of St. Petersburg area. The urban forest typology based on a set of 630 sample plots of 20×20 m each, located in the parks, gardens, urban forests, and natural reserves was elaborated. The 25 forest site types were distinguished.

In the forests and green spaces of the Caucasian Mineral Waters resort region there are observed successions, leading to a decrease in their ecological potential. We defined the sanitary conditions and productivity of artificial and natural stands, collected data on species composition and abundance of trees in these stands and non-forested areas. We also determined the level of optimum illumination for the development of oak undergrowth.

Invasive species – introduced species, spontaneously settled outside their natural range, and successfully adapted to the new growing conditions. The problem of invasive species penetration, both herbaceous and woody, has long been a concern of scientists, their views on this issue being contradictory. In the forest parks of Yekaterinburg there is a significant number of introduced species – invasive species. The occurrence of invasive species was considered in three forest parks of the city. The article shows invasive species high occurrence, wide amplitude of ecological plasticity, lack of response to shade density conditions in forest parks and urban plantations. They easily adapt to the conditions of different shade density and increased recreational load, both in urban areas plantations and in the conditions of a forest park. The studied species can be recommended for use in urban parks and forest parks. Cotoneaster lucidus Schlecht. and Amelanchier spicata (Lam.) K. Koch. are quite decorative and can be used both in the formation of edges, landscape groups and as undergrowth species.

Currently the Forestry Legislation of Russian Federation provides enough requirements or (and) allowances to preserve biodiversity. However it often happens that some documents that allow to preserve biodiversity objects contradict other norms that literally stipulate to remove such objects from the ecosystem. The present article analyzes the established Forest Management system in Russian Federation. Based on the study of Russian Forest Legislation, FSC standards and judicial practice the present work concludes that it is required to foresee the necessary action at the stage of forest management planning. Only by following a certain sequence in planning: forest inventory, forest management regulations, forest management plan, technological mapping (for cutting areas, forest regeneration, silviculture etc.) forest management actions and use of forests will it be possible to legalize preserving biodiversity objects without compromising the Russian Forestry Legislation.

The creation and cultivation of the conifers artificial plantings depends on the planting material quality. The relationship of the main characteristics of pine planting material (Pinus sylvestris L.) with taxation character of artificial plantations is viewed on the paper. Pine forest trial is located on a long-cut logging site. Standard seedlings and saplings can be divided into three groups based on this stem diameter at the root collar: small, medium and large. This will enable better projection of future fast-growing trees. Trees grown from large seedlings are characterized by the height values. Such growth rates are noted in the future. The dynamic balance is established in this tree stand quickly, from the very initial phases of formation. All trees grow at a very fast pace. The initial plant ratios in size at the time of planting continue to remain constant. By the end of the second class of age, the maximum number of dominants (47% of all surviving) was formed from large planting material. This indicates that the use of selected high-quality planting material in combination with quality soil cultivation will significantly accelerate the growth of trees in the plantation and to receive target-oriented timber assortment 15–20 years earlier.

Considered problem of forest industry enterprises energy supply. Are taking in account following: energy communications remoteness, high cost of accessing to energy networks if they are near to logging site. Most of remoteness logging sites are energy supplied by diesel power plants. This situation leads to problems: high price for 1 kW, expenses fuel transportation. Observed possibility of Stirling engine usage in forest industry. First of all – electric generator based on Stirling engine, which allow to use biofuel. Considered possible schemes of Stirling engine usage. Co-generation scheme – secondary heat utilization. Direct generation with different biofuel usage. Defined the range of required Stirling power stations powers for forest industry. Was analyzed Stirling engine kinematic schemes: α, β and γ-type. Are defined more suitable type to use in logging sites - α-type. Air was selected like working body. Were analyzed mail difficulties of Stirling engine construction. The absence of calculation technique and experimental experience are show necessarily of construction parameters and heat-mass transfer analysis. Further issues of investigations were defined: complex and multiparameter numeric modeling of Stirling engine operational process with different power ranges and optimal construction parameters finding out for successful introduction of Stirling engine in forest industry were defined.

The main purpose of this work is to define the biological and economic features of various phenological forms of aspen. The research objectives were to visualize the early budbreaking (E), the late budbreaking (L) and the intermediate budbreaking (I) aspen phenological forms and to study the differences in prevalence of heart rot attack, productivity and quality of wood stock, and timber density. The research methodology included stationary and route observations. Stationary surveys were conducted on 4 pairs of trial areas in the C₂ and D₃ forest types. It is observed 620 allotments (total area 823.1 ha). It was found that budbreaking of the E-forms began in for 7-14 days earlier than of the L-forms. The prevalence of heart rot attack among the L-forms was by 30-40 % less, than among the E-forms. The stem quality of the L-forms was higher by 14-50 %. The timber density of the L-forms is reliability higher than of the E-forms.

The first attempt of modeling changes in additive component composition of biomass of Larix sp. communities on the Trans-Eurasian hydrothermal gradients based on regional peculiarities of age and morphology of the forests is attempted. The increase of all biomass components of the tree layer with increasing temperature at the constant precipitation and its decrease with increasing precipitation at the constant temperature is established. The positive relationship of the understory biomass with the temperature in the areas of insufficient moisture as the transition to moisture-rich areas is replaced by the opposite one. The development of such models for basic forest-forming species in Eurasia will give possibility to predict any changes in the biological productivity of forest cover of Eurasia in relation to climate change.

The article considers the possibility of application of open cartographic materials for the analysis of reforestation on the territory of Sosnovsky subdivision of forest district in Priozersky district of the Leningrad region, after felling with a limitation of more than 15 years. With the increase in the pace of technological development, there is an annual increase in the natural resources of our planet and the consumption of wood resources, reforestation is a necessary part of the work after felling on the lands of the forest fund. However, studies based on the analysis of Earth remote sensing data allow us to conclude that there is no quality reforestation of forest land.

In this study, it was shown that in the urban forests bordering highways local disturbances of the nitrogen cycle are observed. In some plots of such forests, zones with a high concentration of nitrogen dioxide may be formed. The mechanisms of this phenomenon were investigated. Using the method of passive dosimetry, nitrogen dioxide absorption rate was estimated at control points in the subcrown space. In the summer period, the light points and the temperature on the soil surface and at a height of 2 m were measured at the control points. It is shown that the formation of internal local zones with a high concentration of nitrogen dioxide in urban forests is regular: surface temperature inversions impede the vertical movement of air, and a decrease in illumination by forest subsurface in comparison with open areas reduces the rate of decomposition of nitrogen dioxide. The influence of these abiotic factors is ambiguous against the background of the transformation of the forest ecosystem during recreational impacts.

The study identified the patterns of change in podzolic soils forming over different parent rocks at early stages of reforestation upon clear-cutting of pine stands. Soils of the first chronosequence, representing Albic Podzol, demonstrated an illuvial distribution of organic matter down the soil profile, with its maximum deposition in the forest litter. As more time passed since logging, mineral horizons gradually got enriched in organic matter, and a thin organo-mineral horizon with elevated carbon and nitrogen content formed under the forest litter by the age of 8 years. The second chronosequence, representing Entic Podzol, displayed a slight reduction in soil richness upon logging, due to intensive humification and mineralization of organic matter. The study found proof that logging using multifunctional machines helps preserve the living ground cover and the top organic horizons in a substantial part of the logging site. Natural reforestation in sites with soils relatively rich in organic matter proceeded through settlement of deciduous species, whereas sites on poor soils were naturally reforested by pine.

This paper presents the results of field experiments that went on in the Leningrad region for seven years with the aim to test the effect of modern herbicides and their mixtures on unwanted vegetation during the first few years after planting European spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). We provide data on the effect of herbicides on unwanted vegetation in clear-cut areas and former agricultural lands. We report the high efficiency of some applications of herbicides. For example, a mixture of Roundup, WS (360 g/l acid glyphosate), Anchor-85, WDG (750 g/kg potassium salt of sulfometuron-methyl) and Arsenal, WC (250 g/l imazapyr) suppressed the development of herbaceous weeds during two vegetative seasons. We provide data on the growth of the planted seedlings. We propose an efficient and low-cost method of creating forest plantations, which involves preliminary treatment of the area with a mixture of herbicides and the subsequent planting of pine and spruce seedlings.

An object of research is a vibration of the stator of the knife refining machines and its interrelation with the factors which influences the course of refining among them are technical condition of a plate and change of characteristics of the ground material. The diagnostic model of process of refining is developed and positively approved. The new method of determination of degree of wear of the refining plate of refiners is offered. The new method of management of functioning of the knife refining machines is developed. It is shown that management of work on this indirect indicator is not worse, than the management based on the earlier known diagnostic signs of refiners functioning. The developed method of management is indispensible for the refiners with stepwise regulation of a gap, in a disk-conic refiners and in a dual refiners. Realization of this method under production conditions showed stable characteristics of a gain in degree of refining of a semi-finished fibrous product and decrease in specific power consumption during refining. The developed methods can be used in other branches of industry, for example, mining and metallurgy.

A subject of research – a fibrous layer in the refiners at refining. By means of the tension compression chart it is shown that parameters of a fibrous layer are adequately described by Maxwell-Thompson's model for liquid friction and the Hooke model for boundary friction of a plate. Deborah's number of a fibrous layer is also investigated. Deborah's number of a fibrous layer at refining changes in the range from 7 to 2.1·10⁶ and depends on a nature and concentration of the refining material, the angle of knife crossing, the frequency of rotation of rotor and width of the platform of contact. For decrease in power consumption at refining both chips and pulp of high concentration it is recommended to increase the speed of sliding of knife of rotor along stator knife. It is possible to reach by increase in frequency of rotation of rotor and by decrease of an angle of crossing of knife. At refining of pulp of low concentration for decrease in power consumption of refining it is recommended to reduce the frequency of rotation of rotor and to increase the angle of crossing of knife of rotor and stator. At the high density of contact of plate knife in the range from 5 to 10⁶ of Deborah number the deformation component of friction coefficient decreases together with power consumption of refining process.

The objective of the work is the study of the features of knotiness of the produced boards faces and the development of directions for their use in the final sawn timber production. In order to have a quantitative understanding of the knotting peculiarities on the faces of produced boards, the nature of the knots distribution on sawn timber, experimental work was carried out. The initial data collection consisted of the following stages: selection and certification of saw logs, cutting logs into timber and their passporting. For certification boards used the method of photographing. According to passports and photographs, boards were analyzed using AutoCAD and MS Excel. There is a tendency of uneven knots distribution relative to the central axis of the board. The obtained data predetermine the need for further research on the trends of the location of the knots in the trunk. In this case, it is necessary to study not so much a specific trunk; it is required to obtain a pattern of the propagation of knots in forest stands along a group of homogeneous trees. In this case, predicting the location of the knots in the logs can influence the technology.

Abstract.Thermochemical processing of aspen wood to produce carbon materials is of interest considering that it allows increasing the cost of its products several times and enhancing the sustainability of forest complex enterprises.Currently, the enterprises are confined to the manufacture of charcoal, although it is possible to produce other carbon materials, such as charcoal briquettes, activated carbon and oxidized coal.While processing aspen wood, it is feasible to arrange manufacturing charcoal briquettes. Increased mechanical strength and high bulk density of briquettes raises the range of economically viable transportation of manufactured products, i.e. logistics is being improved.To obtain stable quality activated carbon from aspen coal, water vapor activation is the least environmentally hazardous. For such activation implementation, we recommend using a rotary kiln equipped with a Z - shaped insert. For reasons of environmental safety, the oxidation of activated carbon is preferably carried out using hot, humid air. In this case, unlike liquid-phase oxidation, no wastewater is formed.

The present article discusses the problems of systemic development of forestry in the current historical period, that is, in the first decades of the twenty-first century. At the same time, the solution to a set of existing complex problems of forest conservation, effective maintenance and rational use is envisaged on the basis of the nodal development of "priority-target systems of silvicultural activities" in combination with the development of organizational and economic support for the effective implementation (application) of these systems in practice, including the design, planning and implementation of all forest management activities.

A study was carried out at the plantations of the genus Populus in the Leningrad Region, formed on lands previously used in agriculture, on soils underlain by carbonate rocks. It is noted that in the studied stands, stem phytomass is produced, exceeding the natural aspen forests in the studied area. Minor damage by stem rot is noted only in the fragrant poplar forest. An increase in the initial density of forests increases the density of poplar wood, but reduces the total stock of the stand and stem phytomass. The conducted studies have shown the promise of growingFirst sections in your paper.

Studies have investigated the use of slaked lime in strengthening slurry of the sludge-ground and ash-ground mixtures in order to impart a higher strength to the crystal lattice, as well as to accelerate the hardening processes by reducing the acidity of the medium. The results of the exploratory study on the interaction of sandy soil with mineral binders, as well as the results of the study of the physico-mechanical characteristics of samples of ash-sand mixture with slaked lime and the study of the physico-mechanical characteristics of samples of nepheline sludge soil mixed with slaked lime are presented. The obtained results confirm that the use of localized soils reinforced by mineral binders, including industrial waste, is economically feasible, which will allow the development of forest roads infrastructure Recycling of industrial waste in significant volumes in forest road construction will reduce the area of storage sites, thus is a priority from the point of view of ecology.

The world community is increasingly expressing its concern about the rational and cost-effective use of available natural resources. There is a threat of degradation of a large area of the world's forests, the loss of unique biological systems and biological diversity, and environmental degradation. This is mainly due to insufficient funding. Therefore, new approaches to financing of reforestation are required. This, in turn, requires a different approach to determining the cost of standing timber. When determining the cost of standing timber, one should take into account not only the species composition, but also the quality of tree stands (i.e. assortment composition), road infrastructure (remoteness from public roads and the availability of forest roads for hauling timber and by-products), soils and other factors affecting the cost of transport of forest products. Funds received from the sale of wood resources should be directed to reforestation, the creation of forest infrastructure and the solution of other social and environmental problems.

Thermomodification is a thermal destruction of wood in an oxygen-free environment. The actual problem is the analytical identification of technological regimes for obtaining thermomodification wood with desired properties, including color parameters. The rate of thermal destruction depends on the temperature, kinetic parameters of each stage and the degree of completion. The article proposes to determine the wood color characteristics as a function of degree completion individual stages of thermal destruction. To identify used model of color components decomposition at the GRB. A method for determining the degree of wood modification by its color is proposed. The mathematical model for calculation of technological process parameters thermomodification to get wood of set color is resulted. An example of determining the degree of thermal destruction industrial production birch wood by color parameters is given. Technological modes for production of set color wood are calculated. Solutions are obtained for isothermal and non-isothermal regimes.