Forest restoration is carried out in Kalmykia to avoid complete desertification

Kalmykia, since the beginning of this year,  has already carried out artificial reforestation on more than 650 hectares. By the end of November, it is planned to bring it to 1.4 thousand hectares. This is necessary to increase the forest area on the territory of the republic and prevent desertification, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources reported on its website.

“Forests are almost completely destroyed in Kalmykia, therefore, without artificial reforestation, the territory of the region can come to complete desertification,” explained Elena Busygina, head of the forest reproduction and protection department of the Federal Forestry Agency, whose words are quoted in the message.

The forest cover of Kalmykia varies from 0% to 0.9% in different areas. 

“The total area of forest land in Kalmykia is 55.7 thousand hectares, the area of forest land occupied by trees accounts for only 15.4 thousand hectares (28%). The survival rate of forest crops is very low due to the climatic conditions of the region. However, this indicator can be improved with the help of special technologies for creating forest plantations based on the assessment of soil suitability for forestry,” Busygina noted.

According to her, research in this direction is already being carried out by subordinate institutions of the Federal Forestry Agency - VNIILM and VNIILGISbiotech.

These organizations are developing standard and technological schemes for creating forest crops that can take root in various natural zones and soils of Kalmykia. The results of the research formed the basis of recommendations for increasing the forest cover of the republic.

Reforestation work has been carried out in Kalmykia since 2021.