Ribbon relict pine forests in the Altay territory - current forest management and its improvement

The paper highlights aspects of felling-related ribbon pine forest condition assessment as well as summary of forest management historical experience in the Altay territory ribbon pine forests. Research findings result in factors that determine current ribbon pine forest condition, highlight historically varying procedures in forest management, yield calculation, estimation of forest stand felling ages, conservation operations in ribbon pine forest and its environmental and other functions, ribbon pine forest environment conservation potential buildup. Forest regeneration potential efficiency in relation to forest growing conditions and thinning intensity based on experimental research finding analysis in 64 selective felling areas more than 5 years ago is presented. Based on ribbon pine forest sanitary condition study findings key forest pests and diseases have been isolated and mostly affected woods found. With regard to earlier silvicultural operations and natural regeneration process potentials key forest management improvement areas in the Altay territory ribbon pine forests have been shaped through development and application of regional special purpose silvicultural operation packages in protective ribbon pine forests.