Characteristics of coniferous and mixed forest types in the basins of Belaya and Malaya Laba rivers (North-Western Caucasus)

Abstract

Based on the results of the studies conducted in the forest areas of the basins of the rivers Belaya and Malaya Laba, there has been compiled a typological scheme of the coniferous and mixed forests of North-Western Caucasus (NWC) which included 21 forest types, that are distributed into 12 groups. The forest stands of the studied forests types is predominantly complex in composition: mixed-age groups, multi-tiered, medium to high productivity, medium to high-density. The forest regeneration is weak or very weak, according to the scale proposed by S. M. Bebia. The data obtained during the research can be used for assessing the dynamics of the forest biogeocenoses, biodiversity, as well as successional processes.