Creation of the first nectar-bearing landscape area of continuous flowering (nectar forest) in the Republic of Bashkortostan
Botanic gardens and arboretums are being set up around the world to help create special collections of plants for the purpose of introduction, conservation of biodiversity and enrichment of the plant world, as well as scientific and educational activities, which, in addition, help in the fight against climate change. In our project, for the first time, it is proposed to create a specialized nectar-bearing arboretum, called the nectar-bearing landscape area of continuous flowering or a nectar forest, which, in addition to the above functions of ordinary arboretums, will also have economic value in the form of creating a universal food base for efficient beekeeping in our region. The first nectar forest with an area of about 18 hectares will be created in the south of the Nurimanovskiy district of the Republic of Bashkortostan near the village of Kyzyl-Barzhau. It is planned to plant a nectar forest, which will consist of 50% different species and forms of lindens, 20% willow and maple species, and the share of all other melliferous woody plants will be 30%. The total number of taxa of the genus Tilia L. (linden) will be 24; it is also planned to use at least 6 species of maple and 12 species and forms of willow. The total number of tree taxa involved will be at least 100. The total duration of flowering of honey plants in the nectar-bearing landscape area of continuous flowering with the participation of the entire population of planned taxa will be at least 193 days (from April 13 to October 24), which will cover the entire beekeeping season in the selected region. The organization of a nectar forest with high species diversity will increase the amount of honey obtained per unit area by at least 114% more compared to Tilia cordata plantations. Increasing the diversity of the forage base and its availability throughout the season will improve the health and stress resistance of bee colonies and increase the brood. In addition to honey production, the nectar forest will also perform the traditional functions of arboretums: scientific, educational, environmental, aesthetic, and recreational. Since the laying of a new arboretum involves the cultivation of a young forest that absorbs carbon dioxide most efficiently, the nectar forest can be used as one of the sites of the Eurasian carbon polygons, which is planned to be created in the Republic of Bashkortostan.