|
Zakaznik Pribaikalsky
(Game reserve)
The Pribaikalsky Zakasnik covers an
area of about 70,100 ha and is located in the Pribaikalsky Administrative
district of the Buryatia Republic, within the boundaries of Kikinsky leskhoz and
Verhne-Itantsinsky and Gremyachinsky lesnitchestvos (ranges).
The zakasnik is situated on the
eastern coast of lake Baikal, some 100 km to the north west of Ulan Ude. It can
be reached via the main road going to the north (R 438), which passes the
capital of the Rayon Turuntaevo after 50 km, and which reaches the lake shore at
Gremyachinsk, the village where Kikinsky leskhoz headquarters is located.
The zakasnik is almost entirely
located within the Lake Baikal Coastal Protective Belt. The north-western part
of the zakasnik borders the lake with a coastline of some 25 km. Its southern
parts are located in the Itantsa river valley and partly in the Kika river
valley. Its north-eastern boundary is formed by the Kika river. About 3,500 ha
are occupied by bogs and brooks, which are mainly located in the delta of the
Kika river.
The relief is dominated by middle
mountains, typically with sandy loam mountain-forest soils with gravel
formations. Along the river valleys peat and peat-humus soils are found. The
climate is strongly continental, with warm summers and cold winters, showing
average temperatures varying from -1,0o to -2,2o Celsius. The climate of
Pribaikalsky Zakasnik is less cold in winter and more humid than on the western
side of the lake (western Pribaikalje) or further inland (eastern mountain
forest steppe). Precipitation is mostly in the form of late summer rains, with a
yearly average of 400 mm. However, annual variation is high, and precipitation
in wet years may be three to four times that of dry years.
According to the forest vegetation
zoning, the zakasnik’s vegetationforms part of the Ulan-Burgasy area of subtaiga
pine-larch and mountain taiga dark coniferous forests. The growing season lasts
about 120 days. On a whole, the climatic conditions are very favourable for pine,
larch, cembra, birch and aspen, resulting in highly productive stands. The
vertical zoning of vegetation is clearly noticeable, consisting of larch-pine
taiga belt and cembra-fir taiga belt above it.
Forest resource
The total area of the zakasnik when calculated from the inventory data is 68,000
ha, of which 93% is covered with forests. (The calculated land area of 67 495
hectares is used in the calculations, although it is somewhat less than the
official area of 70 100 hectares). The remainder (4,500 ha) is occupied with
lakes, peatland, rangeland, etc. A large part of the forests (86%) is classified
as Group I Forest (protection) since they are located within the Baikal
Protective Belt.
The total standing volume is
estimated at 12.5 million m3, or an average of 186 m3/ha. In general, the
zakasnik is mountainous.
Pribaikalsky Zakasnik (70,100 ha)
was first declare a game reserve in 1971, and is located in the protected belt
along the eastern shores of Lake Baikal. It is situated within Kikinsky leskhoz,
and about half of its area has been leased to logging companies. There is a
management plan for Kikinsky leskhoz, which was last updated in 1990. There are
also management plans for the lease areas within the leskhoz, but a separate
management plan for the zakasnik does not exist. Hence a management plan has
been prepared for Pribaikalsky Zakasnik using a new concept of landscape
ecological planning.
The zakasnik was chosen as a pilot
area because it reflects very well the present problems and challenges of
sustainable forest utilisation in the Baikal basin. The most productive and
finest stands of pine dominated forests in the Buryatia Republic are located
within the basin. However, since almost all forests located near existing
transport networks have been logged in the past, logging companies are now
turning their attention to the closest remaining unlogged forests, such as those
in the zakasnik. On the other hand, the forests of the Baikal basin, especially
those located within the protective belt, are recognised for their high
biodiversity values as well as for their important protective function in the
lake Baikal catchment.
Economically it is hardly feasible
to exploit forests in remote locations, due to rather inefficient and expensive
traditional harvesting and transport methods, and the lack of appropriate
infrastructure. On the other hand the nearby forests have all been logged and in
the absence of tending and thinning operations, these will produce only small
diameter wood in this phase and the nearby future, for which there is hardly a
market. This dilemma requires a new policy with both long term and short term
objectives.
On the long term objectives should
aim (a) to improve the stand quality of the nearby forests through thinning
operations; (b) to improve the cost effectiveness of the logging operations
through infrastructure development and use of improved machinery; and (c) to
develop a strong market for small sized wood.
On the short term careful planning
of the remaining unlogged forests in the Baikal basin is required, especially
those located within the Baikal protective belt. Not only to secure a steady
supply of raw material, but even more to protect the biodiversity and the
catchment values of this unique ecosystem, declared a world heritage site by
Unesco in 1996. As such, it is hoped that this planning exercise may serve as an
example for other areas in the basin which have been earmarked for future
logging.
Clearly, the ecological importance
of the forests within the Baikal protective belt must be emphasised, considering
their unique features. This applies even more so in the zakasnik with its stated
conservation objectives, and which until recently had been subject to relatively
low intensities of commercial logging activities. Hence the majority of its
forests still are in their natural state, and contain a complex mosaic of
various succession stages, with a high proportion of over-mature light- and dark
coniferous stands providing excellent game habitat. Thus, the leading motive
should be to secure conservation of biodiversity, game species, landscapes and
the water regulation characteristics of the catchment.
|
 |
|
