An opening speech at the meeting was given by the KarRC RAS leader Olga Bakhmet, who informed the gathering about the main lines of forest regeneration research conducted by the Centre's scientists, outlined their key results and trends in this field, and also introduced the leading scientists in silvics and silviculture – Director of the Forest Research Institute KarRC RAS Boris Raevsky and the Institute's leading researchers, Sergey Moshnikov and Sergey Sinkevich, who have been engaged in this field of study for many years.
The keynote talk at the meeting, presenting and substantiating KarRC’s stance on forest regeneration matters, was delivered by the Director of the Forest Research Institute, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Boris Raevsky.
In his speech, Boris Vladimirovich emphasized that industrial-scale timber harvesting in Karelia implies that logging companies must perform reforestation. He gave a detailed account of the trends and outcomes of natural and artificial forest restoration over the past 30-35 years, stressing that one cannot rely solely on the capacities of the nature.
Scientists of the KarRC RAS argue that the share of newly created plantations in Karelia should be much higher than it is now. Being currently at about 30% of the logged areas, it must further be raised to some 60%. In the rest of clear-cut areas, measures to assist natural forest regeneration should be implemented.
-- The main species for artificial reforestation here have been pine and spruce, but it is also desirable to additionally establish plantations of various birch species and forms, including curly (aka Karelian) birch. These species, varieties, and forms should be the basis for artificial reforestation, -- declared Boris Raevsky, answering a question about which forest species should be prioritized.
According to Dr. Raevsky, adopting breeding based on genetic selection in artificial reforestation is a must. In doing so, it is essential to increase the share of seeds with enhanced hereditary properties in the total seed stock of forest-forming species. Accordingly, the area of plantations established using planting stock with enhanced genetic properties should be expanded. The predominance of local seed and planting stock, including genetically enhanced material, will promote the growth, establishment, and survival rates of the newly planted stands.
The problem is that while the existing nurseries in the republic are potentially capable of growing the required number of seedlings and saplings for artificial reforestation, it is still necessary to create new forest seed nurseries of higher genetic value to procure seeds with enhanced hereditary properties.
-- Today, there are only 1.5 hectares of such plantations in Karelia. In our opinion, the area of such forest seed nurseries should be increased to approximately 100 hectares over the next 20-25 years. This is when we can speak of adequate supply of genetically enhanced seed stock for artificial reforestation in Karelia, -- explained Boris Raevsky.
Participants of the meeting
Participants of the meeting supported the idea of using planting stock grown in Karelia for reforestation, but noted that some forestry enterprises purchase planting stock from outside the republic because it is cheaper, compromising the establishment rate and quality of future forests. Therefore, one of the proposals put forward at the meeting was to amend the forest seed zonation system for forest-forming species at the federal level.
A proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic to compel logging companies operating in the Arctic zone to restore forests using breeding stock harvested and reared in the same territory.
In the near future, a regional program will be developed to support curly birch, including creating more of its nurseries.
In autumn 2026, a conference is going to be held in Karelia, with the participation of scientists from our core scientific and research-educational centers in the field of forestry, and a proposal has already been made to make such events annual.
Artur Parfenchikov, Head of the Republic of Karelia
-- Together with the scientific community, we work constantly and systematically to preserve the diversity of our forests, and we determine their composition relying on long-term research done by the KarRC RAS, because the balance between coniferous and deciduous forests is very important. Having achieved 100% of forest regeneration, we have maintained this level for some year now, -- noted the Head of Karelia, Artur Parfenchikov.
Photos by RK Government Press Office
