Mountain-meadow phytocenoses of the upper Chegem gorge: current state

The current state of mountain-meadow phytocenoses in Bashil-Chegem area within Kabardino-Balkar high-mountain state nature reserve is considered. Monitoring is effective instrument representing basis not only to estimate current state in high-mountain meadows, but predict their further variations under anthropogenic or natural factors, and to optimize ecological strategy of nature management. Despite the fact that the Upper Chegem gorge is included into federal especially protected nature territory - Kabardino-Balkar high-mountain state nature reserve, mountain meadows are used as pastures and hay-growing areas. Recreational pressure is the other form of anthropogenic impact. Mountain-meadow ecosystems are at the same time the source of genofund of unique high-mountain flora. To preserve its diversity is ecologists’ important task that can be solved including monitoring, especially as the strategy to preserve biodiversity is essential in sustainable development concept of the world community. The research works on the slopes of the southern exposure shows that vegetation is represented by forb-and-fescue meadows, steppe meadows and meadow steppes within the subalpine belt. Phytocenoses with pronounced features of pasture digression are frequent in the valley bottom and slope foothills. Festuca varia Haenke is dominant and edificatory. Phytocenoses embrace over 40 plant species, predominantly the forb group. In the Gara-Auzusu gorge, where the “Chegem” holiday camp has been functioning for 50 years, recreational pressure is the principal form of anthropogenic impact. Phytocenoses of Urtica dioica dominance are abundant in the holiday camp territory, and in its vicinity: at the walls of utility buildings, around rubbish dumps, and in the frontier post territory. We have integrated such phytocenoses as Heracleo asperi-Urticetum Tsepkova, Abramova 2010 association with the dominance of Urtica dioica L. distributed on the territory of camp and its surroundings.