Outcomes and Challenges of Station Studies in Forests of the Far East
Short history, the main fields and the outcomes of studies on forest stations in the Far EAST were documented. The methods of study of dynamic processes were developed or improved for the main forest types. The anthropogenic and natural changes of environmental complexes were predicted. New valuable data on productivity, biological cycle, coenotic structure, biology and ecology of various species was collected. Features of forest-forming process in the main stone pine – broadleaved and black fir – broadleaved formations were studied in the south. The ecological descriptions of forest-forming species, forest types, and groups of forest types were documented. The past realms of the species and types of intact forests were deduced. The contribution of nature reserves to the studies was shown. Graph methods of landscape and environmental structure were tested for the forests on the northern limit. Features indicating high vulnerability and valuable habitat forming and climate protecting ecosystem functions were found for the northern forests and open forests. The station studies constituted the basis of multiple recommendations and supported decision making in reforestation in the Far East, sustainable forest management, conservation of rare and threatened species of flora and fauna. Recent challenges related to low funding and possible solutions were discussed. Forest station studies located nearby the research institutions were proposed.