UDC

581.5

Authors

Staritsyn Vadim Vladimirovich
Institute of Ecological Problems of the North, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (Arkhangelsk, Russia)
e-mail: corwin87@mail.ru
Belyaev Vladimir Vasilyevich
Institute of Natural Sciences and Biomedicine, Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov; Institute of Ecological Problems of the North, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Arkhangelsk, Russia)
e-mail: beljaew29@mail.ru

Abstract

The use of non-timber forest resources is growing in importance due to the current trends for integrated use of forest resources and sustainable forest management. Wild berry fields are used for additional nourishment, production of pharmaceuticals (berries are rich in vitamins, minerals and bioactive substances), and as a base for beekeeping. Due to climatic conditions of the Arkhangelsk Region, fruit growing there is rather limited, making the study of berry fields particularly relevant. Among the widely used plants in medicine and nutrition within this region are cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). We aimed to study the changes in the amount of bilberry and cowberry in key producing forests since 1974. These forty years have seen changes in the composition of forest lands and forest structure as well as environmental conditions, which had a certain effect on the amount of berries. The differences are caused by both direct anthropogenic impacts and changes in legislation, inventory approaches to noncommercial stands and reduced areas of glades, wastelands, burnt-out places and dead plantations. Our calculations showed that available bilberry (in bilberry pine and spruce forests) and cowberry (in cowberry pine forests and polytric-sphagnum pine forests) resources had increased. In cutting areas, available cowberry resources had decreased. The results obtained provide us with more accurate information about the current state of available bilberry and cowberry resources in the forest types under consideration. The updated figures will be helpful in more accurate planning of berry harvesting.

Keywords

bilberry resources, cowberry resources, forest structure, Arkhangelsk Region

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