In the Vitebsk region, 60 thousand square meters of drying spruce forests have been registered since the beginning of the year

March 27, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Since the beginning of the year, 60 thousand square meters of drying spruce forests have been identified and registered in the Vitebsk region, as reported to BELTA correspondent by Vasily Kirpichenok, Deputy Head of the Department of the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The forest pathology situation in the region began to worsen in 2010, especially in forestry enterprises in the Orsha and Tolochin districts, where the southern border of the spruce's range lies. Ecologists attribute this to hot summers and a decrease in groundwater levels. In 2011, 361 hectares of drying spruce forests with a total timber volume of 122 thousand cubic meters were registered in the Orsha forestry, and 111 hectares with a total volume of 33 thousand cubic meters in the Tolochin forestry. In total, across the regional forestry association in 2011, 532 hectares of drying spruce forests with a total timber volume of 169 thousand cubic meters were registered. The most effective method for preventing spruce forest diseases is partial or clear-cutting. Last year, almost all drying spruce forests were cut down. However, dangerous processes have not yet been stopped. Following an assessment of spruce stands this year, a total of 30 thousand cubic meters of drying spruce forests requiring clear sanitary felling have been registered across the forestry association, including 21 thousand cubic meters in the Orsha forestry and 7 thousand cubic meters in the Tolochin forestry. Another 30 thousand cubic meters of spruce stands require selective sanitary felling. As of mid-March, 63% of diseased spruce forests have been cleared through clear sanitary felling, and 73% through selective felling. The condition of ash stands also raises concern among ecologists. This year, in the Liozno forestry, according to survey materials, 8 thousand cubic meters of ash stands are subject to clear and selective felling, of which a quarter has already been cut. As Vasily Kirpichenok noted, the situation with spruce and ash forests is under control. However, failure to take appropriate measures could lead to a significant deterioration of the sanitary condition of the forest fund, a decrease in the technical quality of the timber itself, the emergence of new foci of stem pests, and a worsening of the overall environmental situation in the region. -0-