Ecological and geographical assessment of the highlands of the Aksaut valley of Karachay-Cherkessia

The article provides an analysis of the natural components of the high mountain zone of the Aksaut Valley. The geographical position, the originality of the geological past, the strong dismemberment of the relief, climatic and geoecological features determine the diversity of the plant and animal world of the Aksautsa Valley. High mountain forests of the valley experience severe anthropogenic loads and require certain forest interventions that take into account the characteristics of the mountain area, the nature of industrial mining, the recreational and aesthetic functions of mountain forest landscapes and traditional forms of environmental management.