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The study represents the results of the forest inventory observations (the data of forest stand, undergrowth, understory, coarse woody debris) based on the reconnaissance stage (the express assessment) of the research on the intensive level polygon “Kivach” (Republic of Karelia) within the implementation of the monitoring framework of the carbon budget in the forests of Russian Federation. We found that within the polygon the old-growth overmature coniferous forest stands dominate: 71% of the test site area is represented by pine stands, 16% – by spruce ones. The blueberry forest type predominates representing 76 and 38% of pine and spruce stands, respectively. The productivity of the studied forest stands is middle: the average quality class of pine stands is II.7, whereas spruce and birch stands have III.0 only. The composition of the undergrowth is dominated by spruce with the average density in range from 0.14 to 1.70 thousand pcs ha-1. Pine undergrowth is most represented in lingonberry and blueberry pine forests. The understory layer is formed by tree species typical of coniferous boreal forests – common mountain ash, gray alder, goat willow, common juniper, and needle hips. Within the polygon the coarse woody debris amount varies widely and its distribution by stock, type (standing and downed deadwood and stumps) and species identity depends on the dominant tree species of the stand and forest site conditions. Despite the old-growth and low-disturbed status, the forest sites of the polygon “Kivach” largely reflect the tree species and typological diversity of the forests in the middle taiga subzone.

In windthrow-affected areas, the research of biota is of high relevance taking into account the lack of knowledge about the dynamics of their flora, soil properties, and tree stand regeneration. An important task is to study the mechanisms of the natural dynamics of plant communities after major disturbances in large boreal forests. This paper was aimed to investigate the effects of a total windthrow event on the dynamics of biodiversity in pristine mid-boreal spruce (Picea abies) forests. The study was carried out in the Vodlozersky National Park (Northwest Russia: Arkhangelsk Region and Republic of Karelia), situated in the northern and middle taiga subzones. A series of permanent sample plots was established in an area affected by massive windthrow in 2000. The windthrow consequences of the forest communities have been studied, starting from the year of the event (2000) at 2–5-year intervals. A soil survey has been conducted in 2016. Windthrown trees, situated in the sample plots, were counted by species and diameter classes. Natural regeneration was estimated in subplots with a division to height cohorts and vitality status. Geobotanical relevé sampling of the ground vegetation has been conducted in 1 × 1-m permanent plots. Aphyllophoroid fungi (Basidiomycota) were counted by fruit bodies. Main soil pits and partial pits were dug. The morphological description of soils was produced in both undisturbed and disturbed sites in the study area. Obtained data, covering 20 years of surveys of various components of the forest plant communities (tree stand, advance regeneration, ground vegetation, wood-destroying fungi, soils), were analysed. We found that 16–20 years after the windthrow event the species and age structure of the tree stand has been considerably changed due to the forest stand rejuvenation. Post-windthrow regeneration of coniferous species in the true-moss group of forests has been successfully going on. By the end of the second decade after the windthrow event, cowberry spruce forests contained 4300 individuals/0.01 km2 of viable spruce regeneration, including 1500 individuals/0.01 km2 belonging to the large size category of spruce trees. In the bilberry-Sphagnum-type forest, spruce regeneration amounted to 8700 individuals/0.01 km2, including 2200 individuals/0.01 km2 belonging to the large size category of spruce trees. This amount is sufficient to ensure the development of spruce-dominated communities in the future. Since the forest ecosystems were recovering after the windthrow, the biodiversity of changed, that was reflected in an increase in the species composition of the ground vegetation and fungal communities. Over the study period (2001–2021), surveys of the sample plots demonstrated 83 aphyllophoroid fungi species, including five species included in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Karelia, as well as 22 taxa, considered old-growth forest indicator- and specialist species. The number of wood-destroying fungi species was the highest in the period from the 12th to the 19th post-windthrow years. The changes in soil properties on windthrow-affected sites were more explicit in the upper horizons: soil acidity decreased; both potassium and carbon content increased; nitrogen distribution across horizons became more even. An increase in the carbon-nitrogen ratio was detected in the Е and BF horizons. The obtained data can be used for predicting the regeneration of pristine mid-boreal spruce forests affected by catastrophic disturbances.

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The assessment of the succession status and the forecast of the development of pine forests depend on their origin and need a detailed study of historical and modern fire regimes. This article summarises the information on the dynamics of fires in the forests of the plain area in the Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve (Russia) before 1942. Current forest fires in the pine forests in the Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve are a legacy of previous traditional land use on this territory. Thanks to the material analysis of the first forest inventory, the condition of the forests of the plain area was assessed for the first time 10 years after the foundation of the Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve. It was shown that about 50% of the forests of the modern plain area (most of the lichen, green moss-lichen and green moss-shrub communities) at that time were already touched by ground and crown fires. The population got accustomed to the smoke along the tributaries of the Pechora and the Ilych rivers, so that they reflected it in the names. Perhaps, for several centuries, fires were initiated by the Mansi, who used this territory as winter pastures until the middle of the 19th century. Eventually, a small human population actively visited the forests having the purpose of logging, hunting, gathering of wild-growing plants and fishing. The interfluve of the Pechora and Ilych rivers was a mosaic of land, divided between the inhabitants of various villages. Careless handling of fire led to numerous uncontrolled fires that no one put out and as a result, vast territories of forests were burnt. After the formation of the Pechora-Ilych Biosphere Reserve, these pine forests continued to burn, but much less. Since the plain area adjoins the navigable River Pechora, the anthropogenic causes of these fires cannot be completely ruled out. At the same time, we do not exclude the possibility of fires from dry thunderstorms. However, when assessing the modern fire regime, it is important to remember that the high fire danger in these forests is a legacy of previous impacts, which requires further study.

Most woodlands of the Northern Eurasia are represented by bilberry-green moss spruce-fir forests. At the same time, a tall herb type of spruce-fir forests that occupies a much smaller area was identified and described. The objective of this work is to evaluate and compare the species richness and productivity of the ground vegetation of tall herb spruce-fir (unique) and bilberry-green moss spruce-fir (typical) forests of the Northern Urals. Based on previous studies, two forest types were selected in the foothill part of the Pechora-Ilych nature reserve with tall herb and bilberry-green moss ground vegetation, where total mapping, determination of microsite area and geobotanical descriptions had been carried out previously. Material for determination of the aboveground and below-ground phytomass and chemical composition of plant species was collected in 2017–2018. The concentrations of C and N in plant samples were measured on the elemental analyzer, and Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn content was found using the method of measuring mass fraction of the element in powder samples by X-ray fluorescence analysis. It was found out that the total phytomass of vascular plants in the ground vegetation of tall herb forests is 5 times higher than that of bilberry-green moss forests. The phytomass of mosses, on the contrary, is 4.4 times lower in tall herb forests in comparison with bilberry-green moss forests. Examination of ecological-coenotic groups of plants in terms of the content of chemical elements taking phytomass in consideration shows that the greatest contribution to the accumulation of macro- and microelements in the tall herb spruce-fir forest is made by the plants from tall herbs, boreal dwarf shrubs and boreal small herbs groups; in the bilberry-green moss spruce-fir forest, the main role is played by mosses and boreal dwarf shrubs. To assess the content of biogenic elements in the ground vegetation a differentiated approach was suggested, which included accounting for above-ground and below-ground phytomass by ecological-coenotic groups of plants within different types of microsites.

The article is concerned with the discussion of the reasons for the contradictions existing in the assessment of the hydrological role of forests. The authors believe that the accumulation of new information related to seemingly well-studied processes and phenomena necessitates revisions of traditional views and leads to new knowledge of the hydrological role of forests. Various conceptual approaches to assessing the hydrological role of forests in different geographic conditions are considered. System analysis of the materials obtained by the authors and literature data made it possible to identify the features of the hydrological cycle depending on the structure of forests and climatic conditions. The data of 460 snow surveys in the period of maximum snow reserves in 212 forest stands growing in different climatic and ecological conditions were used. The comparison of the features of snow moisture balance of the forest and treeless ecosystems in different climatic conditions contributed to understanding the reasons for the contradictory assessments of the hydrological role of forests. The authors showed that in the conditions of mild and warm winters, forests are more powerful evaporators of snow moisture than treeless sites and in conditions of severe winters with frequent snowstorms, they are the accumulators of snow moisture and sources of river flow. The paper presents a conceptual model describing the mechanisms of water cycle in the forests of the boreal zone, which determine the features of the influence of forest ecosystems on the river runoff depending on the geophysical background.

Boreal forests are one of the main carbon (С) pools on the planet. Decomposition of the litter is a main mechanism of C accumulation in soil. This process is often influenced by fires. Thus, we need to enhance our understanding about decomposition of the litter in post-fire forests to better understand the mechanism of C accumulation in boreal forests. Here, we studied initial stages of decomposition of litter in the post-fire forest (12 years after fires) and in the background larch forest located in the Tukuringra mountain range in the northern part of the Amur oblast. We present the results of a field experiment on the decomposition of the main typical fractions of larch forest. We used the litter bags method for studying rate of decomposition litter (leaves, grass, branches and needles). After 150 days mass loss of litter was 36.7 % of initial mass in the post-fire forest and 39.9 % in the background forest. Mass loss was most rapid in the first 75 days of the experiment in the both cases. In both plots the rate of decomposition of litter was decreased in order: grass – leaves – needles – branches. In both the post-fire and background forests, rate of litter decomposition is a function of moisture. Soil acidity was higher in post-fire forest than background forest (5.3 and 4.8, respectively, p < 0.01). However, this soil property does not influence early stages of litter decomposition in either case.

The condition of soil under the influence of airpollutions сopper-nickel smelter "Severonickel" (Monchegorsk, the Murmansk region) have been analyzed. The spatial-temporal dynamics of acidity of Al-Fe podzolic organic soil horizon in the process of technogenic digression of spruce and pine forests has been performed. The studies conducted in 1992 and 2007 on fixed sample plots at different distances from the emission source. Parcellary differences have been found in background spruce forest, where the actual acidity of organic soil horizon spruce parcels is lower than between crown space. Under air pollution parcellary differences of soil acidity are not expressed. In the pine forests the spatial dynamics is characterized by reduced actual and hydrolytic acidity of the organic horizon and the growing exchange of aluminium along a gradient of atmospheric pollution. In defoliating spruce forests and sparse forests the actual soil acidity reduction is observed only in between crown spaces, and hydrolytic soil acidity – in both parcels. The stage of initial defoliation of the crowns of coniferous trees, most remote from the source of emission of pollutants is identified. At this stage, the organogenic horizon of the spruce soils is more acidic than in the undisturbed phytocenosis, and the hydrolytic acidity of the soils remains at the background level. Under the reduction of atmospheric emissions soil acidity decreased in defoliating forests in 2007. In the immediate vicinity of the smelter (7–10 km) soil pH has not changed during the study period. In the pine defoliating forests and sparse forests hydrolytic soil acidity has increased. In spruce forests under atmospheric pollution, the level of hydrolytic and exchange acidity has decreased, with the exception of the stages of initial defoliation of North taiga forests. The exchange soil acidity, the content of the exchange of aluminium and exchange of hydrogen reliably increase at this stage of forest digression. The results of the research can be used in monitoring environment, assessing soil fertility of forest ecosystems under the influence of natural and technogenic factors and contribute to the development of methods of disturbed soils' rehabilitation.

Pan-Eurasian Experiment (PEEX) initiative (https://www.atm.helsinki.fi/peex/), initiated in 2012, is an international, multidisciplinary, multiscale program focused on solving interlinked global challenges influencing societies in the Northern Eurasian region and in China. As a part of the program, PEEX is aimed to establish an in situ observation network, which would cover environments from the Arctic coastal regions, tundra to boreal forests, from pristine to urban megacities. The PEEX network will be based on two components: (i) the existing stations activities and (ii) establishing new stations. The upgrading plans of the existing stations as well as the new stations will be based on a SMEAR (Stations for Measuring Earth surface ‒ Atmosphere Relations) concept. The development of the coordinated, comprehensive PEEX observation network is contributing to the sustainable development of the Northern Eurasian regions. It is aimed at providing quantified information on climate relevant variables for the research communities and for constructing services, such as early warning systems, for the society.

Modern forests have been substantially transformed anthropogenically. The extent and the duration of forest exploitation varied in different regions. They also directly depended on the existing industries that consumed the forests. In the Upper Kama region, such activity includes salt production. The autochthonous population was engaged in salt production already in the 10th century. Complex of salt plants was formed at the beginning of the 17th century and required the harvesting of unprecedented volumes of wood. An analysis of the history of salt production development in the Upper Kama region made it possible to date the start of active anthropogenic changes of forests landscapes and presumably to determine its spatial scales. The consumption of firewood to produce one ton of salt decreased from 28.0 to 5.5 m3. In the second half of the 19th century, 700–800 thousand m3 were annually harvested, cutting firewood in the quantity ranging from 4 to 6 hectares along the floating rivers: along the Kama River and its main tributaries.

A study of the vegetation cover current state in any area should start from detailed investigation of its land-use history. Historic factors are of particular importance for forest ecosystems of protected nature areas as usually they are regarded as models and their history is neglected. The article describes fire history of the piedmont area of Pechora-Ilych biosphere nature reserve based on high resolution remote sensing data analysis and historical records. Such method allows reconstruction of forest fires back to 150 years ago. Field research of the tree stands age structure is needed to reveal older fires. 89 burns of 78 893 ha total area were detected, which is 11 % of the piedmont area of the reserve. The burns are distributed unevenly across the area: 76 % are in the Ilych river basin and the rest are in the Pechora river basin. All burns are classified into 4 types according to the periods during which they happened. Burned areas in both river basins changed during these periods: major part of the forest cover in the Ilych basin was damaged before the reserve was established, in the Pechora river basin -in the first decade after its foundation. Only 20 burns are precisely dated out of 73 burns happened in the XX century. Causes are also not determined for all fires. Probably both natural (lightning) and anthropogenic factors caused fires. Known anthropogenic fires are allocated to settlements and floating rivers and cover huge areas (thousands and tens of thousands hectares). Natural fires are at distant watershed areas and are significantly smaller (tens and hundreds hectares).

Traditional nature management is a significant factor of forming modern landscapes. International literature holds huge amounts of material on different aspects of nature management history. In Russia this theme is not properly studied despite the fact that general theoretical concepts and verbal reconstructions of potential ecosystem cover have been developed. The forests in the Upper Pechora basin are part of a large intact forest landscape along the Western macroslope of the Northern Urals. Compared to Southern and Western areas the Upper Pechora became inhabited by Russians only in the early 19th century. Earlier there were only two population centers: Ust-Volosnitsa and Ust-Pozheg. The analysis of ethnographic literature shows that before the Russian colonization the Upper Pechora basin belonged to the Voguls (Mansi) from the 12th century. The economic complex of Voguls is attributed by researchers to the type of semi-settled taiga hunters and fishermen with rudiments of reindeer breeding. This type is widespread in the northern latitudes. Hunting, fishing and reindeer breeding were the main occupations of Voguls for many centuries. Berry-gathering and gathering of cedar pine nuts were of secondary importance. Hunting and reindeer breeding had the greatest ecological significance in the transformation of the natural environment of the Upper Pechora basin.

The most important environmental goals at the global level, relating to forests, are conservation of biological diversity in the natural environment of its habitat and preservation of the environmental role (especially regarding the climate) of forests. Major forest areas, not fragmented by infrastructure and preserving the diversity of relationships between landscape elements, are of crucial importance for solution of both these problems. Since many decisions, concerning conservation and management, are taken at inter-regional and inter-state levels or within the framework of various international processes, it is important to have clear and uniform criteria for identification of such areas. The article deals with occurrence, development and current state of the most common concepts of allocation thereof – the concept of mildly-damaged forest areas, based on the use of remote sensing data, especially images from Landsat satellites. The article substantiates a necessity of further development and update of the concept of intact forest landscapes: unification of approaches to their identification near northern boundaries of forests, adjustment of approaches to registering impacts of forest fires in the context of global climate change and land-use practices, adaption to new public data of remote sensing of the Earth.

The authors suggest a new aspect of origin and development of the East European boreal forest. Innovative ideas and new data allowed to analyze the genesis of the ecosystem cover by creating a series of model reconstructions of different historical periods with different intensity and forms of human activity. Paleobiological reconstruction of teriofauna and denroflora since the late Pliocene to the present allows assuming that the initial vegetation type for boreal forests was Pliocene coniferous-broad-leaved savanna-looking forests of Northern Eurasia, where large herbivores (giant species of the mammoth complex) affected biota the most. At the end of Pleistocene the loss of the key species’ role of large and giant herbivores for grassland ecosystems was a crucial step in the irreversible transformation of the terrestrial ecosystem. During Holocene forest vegetation split into boreal (taiga), nemoral-boreal and nemoral zones as a result of human activities.