Lesnoy Zhurnal (Forestry Journal)

Justification of Raw Material Supply for a Timber Industry Enterprise

2024-07-10T18:09:32+03:00

The article presents the characteristics of the forest fund of the Republic of Bashkortostan, its area, estimated cutting area and quality indicators. An increase in the share of softwood species in the forest fund and a decrease in the yield of industrial wood as a result of the felling of high-quality pine forests have been noted. The relevance of placing in the region an enterprise for processing unclaimed low-quality wood raw materials, Kronoshpan OSB LLC, the world’s largest manufacturer of wood boards, has been substantiated. The issues of substantiation of wood grading and the adoption of a bucking program during exploitation of leased forest plots have been considered using the example of the enterprise mentioned. The calculations of the bucking program (bucking balance) have been carried out based on the condition of specialization in the production of target grades that are in high demand in the market, and maximum provision of raw materials from our own production. Roundwood grading has been determined using the methodology for calculating assortment resources developed at the Ural State Forestry Engineering University. The methodology is based on bucking large samples of full-length logs of deciduous and coniferous species. The samples of full-length logs have been formed in the lower warehouses of Bashkortostan logging enterprises, and their bucking has been carried out taking into account the existing technical requirements for the production of roundwood. The methodology is based on regression equations characterizing the relationship between the ratios of the maximum yield of assortments depending on the average diameter of full-length logs during their specialized bucking, which have been tested in the conditions of the enterprises of the Bashlesprom plant. When determining the varietal structure of birch plywood logs and pine sawlogs, regression equations have also been used to show the relationship between the varietal structure and the average diameter of the bucked full-length logs. Thus, the required assortment of roundwood and the volumes of target grades (plywood logs and sawlogs) of only grades 1 and 2 have been identified for their possible use by specialized enterprises, and the volumes of wood processing for Kronoshpan OSB LLC have been determined.

Detection of Hidden Defects in Cross-Laminated Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Panels

2024-03-28T11:51:20+03:00

Cross-laminated timber is one of the promising construction materials. The existing domestic regulatory and technical framework does not regulate non-destructive testing, as well as examination and monitoring of the technical condition of cross-laminated timber panels, while the results of the practical application of the basic methods of non-destructive testing for these purposes are limitedly presented in the scientific literature. The aim of the research has been to assess the possibility and accuracy of detecting hidden defects in cross-laminated timber panels using the acoustic method and measuring the drilling resistance. The research has been conducted on samples of 100×100 mm panels of different thickness, made of pine wood (Pinus sylvestris L.). Hidden defects include cavities inside the panels, rot in the billets for the layer, and areas with no adhesive layer. Acoustic non-destructive testing has been carried out by the velocimetric method using ultrasonic devices “Pulsar 2.2” and Pundit PL-200. To obtain the drilling resistance profile across the panel thickness, an IML-RESI PD 400 mobile device has been used with standard thin drill bits with a cutting diameter of 3 mm. The paper presents the results of zonal acoustic scanning of cross-laminated timber panels in the form of contour graphs, which reflect the ultrasonic signal speeds along the entire plane of the panel, as well as drilling resistance profiles in places of inherent defects. Based on a pairwise comparison of the medians using the Mann-Whitney U-test and the laws of velocity distributions of the ultrasonic signal for panels with a thickness of 120 and 200 mm, according to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (for panels measuring 120 mm), the absence of statistically significant differences between the samples has been established. The ultrasonic wave velocity of 1,400 m/s has been the boundary value characterizing the presence of an internal defect in the panel. It has been shown that the method of measuring drilling resistance does not allow detecting the presence or absence of an adhesive line in the studied panels. Zonal scanning using the velocimetric method and determination of drilling resistance make it possible to visually represent the presence of internal defects in the form of drilling resistance profiles and contour velocity graphs.

Analysis of the Timber Industry Complex of Forest-Rich Countries

2025-04-11T13:51:55+03:00

The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the production of forest products in the world at the present stage. International trade and production of forest products demonstrates consistent growth. Global export volumes are showing steady annual growth rate of 1.8 % compared to the preceding decade. Forecasts indicate that this upward trend is expected to continue, with even stronger growth expected in 2030. In 2022, global forest production remained generally stable compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, a decline was recorded in some product categories, primarily due to a decrease in production and exports from Russia. The year 2023 has become just as difficult for the global timber industry complex. Despite the stability of the balance of supply and demand for forest products on the world market, there are obvious changes that will become development trends. The analysis shows that forest-rich donor countries (Brazil, Canada, Russia) export timber and lumber to recipient countries with high domestic demand for timber (China, India, the Middle East and Central Asia). Consequently, a state’s forest resource stock should not be considered as the sole indicator of the success and progress of its forestry sector. Several major forest product producing countries, despite lacking access to their own timber reserves, have a developed woodworking industry, which is renowned for producing high-quality products from imported raw materials. Such a strategy of competition in the timber market has been adopted in some Asian countries.

Influence of Décor and Overlay Paper Mass on Laminate Floor Product Properties

2025-04-11T14:56:37+03:00

Laminate flooring products are among the essential construction and building materials not only because of their aesthetics, but also their ability to provide energy saving, sound insulation, prevent surface scratches, and minimize maintenance such as periodic varnishing in the case of solid wood flooring, etc. Even though the laminate flooring products are scratch-resistant and easy to install, they must meet the standard requirements. Therefore, optimizing the production parameters of laminate flooring products is of interest in research and development to obtain cost-effective products that not only compete in the market but also represent scientific communities’ studies. In this sense, production parameters such as paper properties, core material type and properties, resin utilization, pressing conditions (pressure, duration, and temperature), etc. come to the forefront. From this point of view, the effect of décor (105, 115, and 125 g/m²) and overlay (90 and 95 g/m²) paper mass on the surface abrasion (SA), abrasion resistance (AR), impact resistance (IR) and cure properties of laminate floor products which have been industrially produced has been figured out. According to the results, SA, AR, IR, and cure values ranged from 3,600–4,800 revolutions, 4.5–5.0, 110–130 N, and class 5, respectively. According to BS-EN 13329 and BS-EN 14323, products meet the requirements. However, the effect of paper masses on properties has been found to be unstable due to oscillations and no changes observed. In the literature, there are scarcely any studies that figure out these parameters and the authors think that the results of this study may provide valuable data for the comparison.

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Composite Materials Based on Cellulose Diacetate

2025-04-14T10:10:18+03:00

Currently, the state of the problem of wood waste use is critical, since traditional methods of its processing do not provide economically justified involvement of the entire volume of waste in industrial production. To solve this problem, it is necessary to find methods for processing wood waste that increase the share of crushed wood used in the production of high-value-added products in demand. The aim of this work has been to study the effect of the content of activated wood particles crushed by a hydrodynamic method on the physical and mechanical properties of wood-polymer composites based on cellulose diacetate. A polymer matrix in the form of cellulose diacetate and wood filler has been obtained in the laboratory from hydrodynamically activated birch sawdust. Composite samples for testing mechanical properties have been produced by injection molding using a vertical injection molding machine. The morphology of the composite surfaces after the tests has been analyzed using electron microscopy. Thermal degradation of cellulose diacetate samples and composites has been assessed using thermogravimetric analysis. Unfilled cellulose diacetate has shown minimal water absorption (about 4 %). The water resistance of the composite samples has decreased with increasing filler content in cellulose diacetate. An increase in the amount of wood filler in the composition to 20 % leads to an increase in the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity to 23.0 MPa and 1.22 GPa, respectively. A further increase in the filler content from 30 to 70 % has reduced these two indicators. With an increase in the filler content from 10 to 70 %, the flexural strength has dropped from 34.4 to 13.6 MPa. An increase in the proportion of wood filler in the composite composition leads to a decrease in its mass loss at high temperatures. Hydrodynamically treated wood particles can be used in the production of composite materials based on cellulose diacetate when added in amounts from 20 to 30 %.

Variability of Korean Pine Cone and Seedling Parameters under the Conditions of Introduction

2023-03-13T11:13:25+03:00

Korean pine (Pínus koraiénsis) is a valuable forest-forming tree species that is grown not only in its natural habitat, but also in the conditions of introduction. Our study has been aimed at comparing the variability of cone and seed progeny parameters of the KO-9 tree, selected for its yield on the “Izvestkovaya” Plantation, located on the territory of the Karaul’noe Forestry of the Educational and Experimental Forestry Enterprise of the Reshetnev Siberian State University of Science and Technology (suburban area of the city of Krasnoyarsk). Korean pine seeds were harvested in the autumn of 1965 in a plantation in the Primorsky Territory (the Tudo-Vakskoe Forestry; 46° 54′ N, 134° 12′ E, 200 m above sea level; III quality class, IV age class). Planting pattern on a 5×5 m plantation. The tree formed its first cones at the age of 31. From 1999 to 2013, 80 cones were formed, with an average value of 23 pcs. in this variant. The excess has been 247.8 %. In 2020, there were 46 cones on the examined tree. The largest number of shoots has appeared from 8 cones, the parameters of which have been taken for comparison. The cones from tree no. 24 have been 16 cm long, from no. 3 – 12 cm long. The diameter of cones has varied from 7.5 cm (cone no. 21) to 9.7 cm (no. 24). A moderate correlation has been found between the length and diameter of cones (r = 0.488). The average height of 1-year-old Korean pine seedlings has been 3.8 cm, with the highest value being 4.4 cm (the progeny from cone no. 45). The level of variability in the number and length of primary needles has been high. In terms of the number of primary needles, the offspring from cone no. 44 is distinguished, in terms of the length – from no. 3; in terms of the number of cotyledons – also from cone no. 44 (13.3 pcs.), in terms of the length – from no. 24 (3.3 cm). A significant correlation has been established between the length of primary needles and cotyledons, as well as between the length of cones and the height of 1-year-old seedlings. At the age of 2, the greatest height and length of the needles have been in the progeny from cone no. 44. A significant correlation has been established between the height of 2-year-old seedlings and the length of the needles. Two-year-old seedlings, the largest number of which has been obtained from large cones, have been selected by height.

Applying the Random Forest Algorithm to Analyze the Dynamics of Taiga-Tundra Forest Ecosystems

2025-04-14T13:02:34+03:00

The article presents the results of studying the dynamics of taiga-tundra forest ecosystems in the Arkhangelsk Region based on the Earth remote sensing data and the application of image classification using the Random Forest algorithm. The change in the proportion of forested, non-forested and unforested areas in the study area is noted in the forest register. The results of the study show a significant increase in forest area between 2016 and 2023 (by 10.28 %) due to a reduction in non-forested areas and unstocked forest lands. This dynamics is due to the processes of successful natural restoration of non-forest covered areas, as well as their advancement northward taking-up lands due to climate change. The evaluation of the accuracy of automated classification of satellite images using the Random Forest algorithm by comparing them with reference data using criteria such as overall accuracy and the Kappa coefficient (the degree of correspondence between the model estimates and the actual data) has confirmed the reliability of the results obtained. The benchmarks have been taken from inventory databases, stationary sample plot data and the state forest inventory data. Before starting field work, cartographic databases have been studied and sample plots have been selected. Based on experimental data for the study area, a large number of polygons have been created, reflecting the diversity of forest stands and non-forest areas, to train the algorithm for classifying satellite images. Image processing, including corrections, mosaics, geoprojection and return, has been performed using SNAP (Sentinel Application Platform), an open source program. 100 points in various forest vegetation conditions in the study area have been analyzed. Studying the dynamics of forest ecosystems based on the Earth remote sensing data and the application of image classification using the Random Forest algorithm will improve the accuracy of assessing the resource and environmental potential of northern taiga and tundra forests of the Arkhangelsk Region.

Secular Cycles of Radial Increment and Vitality of English Oak in the Oak Groves of the Southern Forest-Steppe

2025-04-09T15:09:37+03:00

Radial increment of the stem of old-growth English oak trees can be a source of information about their growth and development at the final stage of life and longevity potential. The aim of the study has been to assess the vitality of oak during ontogenesis based on the analysis of the secular cyclicity of the radial stem increment. The objects have been groups of trees differing in crown development dynamics in 90- and 270-year-old upland and 130- and 230-year-old floodplain oak groves of the Tellerman Experimental Forestry of the RAS. The increments have been measured from the images of stem core samples scanned at 1200 dpi. The vitality of the oak has been assessed by the early wood increment and its relationship with the crown development. The secular cycles of radial increment caused by the development and self-thinning of stands have been identified. In upland oak groves that have regenerated in clearings, the first branch of the cycle is descending, in floodplain oak groves that have begun to grow under the canopy, it is ascending. The first branch of the secular cycle continues until the age of the oak tree is 150–170 years, the second – up to 200–250 years. The coefficients of variation of the early and late wood radial increment vary within the range of 15–37 and 34–75 %, respectively, and largely depend on secular cyclicity. The results obtained indicate the priority of crown development over stem growth in the dynamics of the secular cycle. Thus, on the descending branches of the cycles, the relative decrease in the late wood increment is significantly greater than that of the early wood – by 1.2–3.8 times, while on the ascending branches its relative increase is only 1.0–1.7 times higher. During the transition from the 1st to the 2nd branch of the secular cycle, the average early wood increment has increased in the overwhelming majority of cases, while the ratio of the average late and early wood increment has decreased. In a secular cycle, the maximum variation in the early wood increment has been equal to the width of a row of vessels. The current vitality of the studied old-growth oak trees has been assessed as satisfactory. Under conditions of lesser rot damage, the longevity of the English oak could have been much higher.

The Viability of Pollen from Natural Populations of Pinus brutia var. pityusa (Steven) Silba in the Mountainous Crimea

2023-04-20T18:00:06+03:00

Pollen quality indicators are the most important characteristics of the development of male generative structures. For species of the genus Pinus L., a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of the development of the male generative sphere is of great importance, since the first, most important stages of seed formation are directly related to the volume of pollen produced by plantings and the level of its viability. The research has been carried out in natural populations of P. brutia var. pityusa of the Mountainous Crimea. To collect pollen samples and study its quality, test plots have been laid for 4 hypsometric profiles in the western part of the southern macroslope of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains on Cape Aya, in the Ayazma and Batiliman Mountain Areas and in the eastern part – on Karaul-Oba Mount and in the Novyj Svet Mountain Area. Pollen has been collected from 10 model trees in the test plots during its free flight period. It has been established that the pollen of P. brutia var. pityusa, which grows in the western part of the mountainous Crimea, has a higher quality compared to the pollen of trees in the eastern territories. In the eastern part, there is also an increase in the number of anomalies in the size and shape of pollen grains, which is associated with deterioration in the temperature regime during the period of microsporogenesis. The study of pollen properties using the germination method on an artificial nutrient medium has revealed a decrease in the level of viability of pollen compared to the results of acetocarmine testing; the differences have been 4–9 %. Meanwhile, the highest level of pollen germination has been observed in the plantations of the upper part of the tract – the average value has been 89.9 ± 2.5 %, for the central and lower parts it has been 88.1 ± 2.7 and 87.9 ± 3.5 %, respectively. The combined use of 2 methods to assess the viability of pollen made it possible to propose a new indicator of its quality – the index of realization of the male gametophyte at the stage of pollen germination. This approach has allowed us to establish that the lowest index is characteristic of the plantations of the central part of the forest tract of the Ayazma Mountain Area – 0.911.

A Mathematical Model of Tree Selection in a Homogeneous Plantation during Improvement Thinning

2025-04-11T09:47:23+03:00

Currently, the qualitative composition of merchantable forests of maturity age and approaching it is often unsatisfactory. This is largely due to the lack of improvement thinning or its improper carrying out. The productivity of logging operations during improvement thinning is low, and the resulting timber in most cases turns out to be unclaimed. Mechanization of improvement thinning is inconvenient from a production point of view and economically unprofitable. At the same time, in the Russian Federation there are ex amples of the implementation of advanced foreign practices of improvement thinning by machine using a harvester and a forwarder. The use of this method allows for a multiple increase in productivity. The unit costs (rub/m³) in this case are higher than the costs of clear cutting of mature and overmature plantations, but often lower than when felling forests. It is possible to further increase the efficiency of machine logging complexes during improvement thinning operations by automating the selection of trees for logging. The basis for such selection should be the main objective of this type of logging – obtaining the most optimal size and quality characteristics of plantations by the age of their maturity. This becomes possible when taking into account the competition of woody plants in the plantation before and after improvement thinning. The article introduces a mathematical formulation of the problem of assigning trees for logging in a homogeneous plantation. It is shown that the number of possible solutions is growing exponentially. An algorithm based on the greedy method is implemented, and an experimental comparison of this method with a random result, as well as with the removal of a tree with the closest neighbour among all trees, is performed. Testing the algorithm on experimental data has shown that it is more effective than the other two.

Assessment of the Transformation of Forests in the Southern Urals Based on Multi-Temporal Satellite Images

2025-04-11T10:35:24+03:00

The transformation of forests in the Southern Urals over a 25-year period has been studied using geoinformation systems and remote sensing methods. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been determined, which reflects the influence of such factors as chlorophyll content, leaf surface area, vegetation density and structure. The index has been calculated based on the interpretation of multi-temporal satellite images (1995, 2013 and 2020) from the Pleiades-1A, Landsat-5 and -8 satellites using the ArcGIS software package to create a vegetation map reflecting NDVI values and a retrospective analysis of the condition of forest vegetation. The values found have a close correlation with the vitality indicators obtained by the field method (the correlation coefficient is 0.69). The calculation of the NDVI index, the generation of maps of the range of fixed NDVI values and the combination of “artificial colours” channels by year has made it possible to identify forest areas with optimal density, age and sanitary condition (dark colour) and areas in need of reforestation. A comparison of the distribution of territory by NDVI classes for 1995–2020 indicates a significant change in the area of individual classes, which are grouped into 11 classes and are represented by values from –0.14 to +0.91. By 2020, the superior part of the study area has begun to belong to higher NDVI classes – 9 and 10, and has amounted to 98 %, which indicates the age uniformity of plantations and an increase in forest productivity since 1995. Plantations with higher NDVI indices are characterized by an increased accumulation of woody biomass compared to other forest stands. The territories of classes 1–9 (NDVI 0–0.8) demonstrate a significant reduction in area and similar dynamics, while the territories of grades 10–11 (NDVI 0.8–1.0) demonstrate noticeable positive dynamics. The results of the study confirm the correctness of choosing the NDVI index from the known vegetation indices for assessing the transformation of the underlying surface types of the study area over 25 years. Thus, this index is an objective indicator of the assessment of the condition of forest ecosystems. Spatial image interpretation methods can be used to determine the area of forested lands and significantly improve the efficiency of forest resource management.

Phytomass of Tree Fractions According to the Rank Distribution Model

2025-04-11T10:57:22+03:00

One of the most important indicators of the condition of a tree is its phytomass. Its direct measurements (with cutting, drying and weighing) are very labour-intensive and have varying degrees of reliability. The data on root phytomass are the least reliable (especially for older trees, where direct excavation of the root system requires considerable effort). This necessitates the development of models for calculating the phytomass of fractions based on fairly simple reliably measured inventory characteristics. The article suggests using a free competition model to describe the structure of a tree when distributing resources available to the tree during growth between its fractions (stem, roots, branches, leaves or needles). The model allows calculating the ratios between the phytomasses of fractions. Based on these calculations, a method for estimating root phytomass has been substantiated. The differences in the parameters of the models for the distribution of fractions by phytomass for different tree species and different growth zones have been analyzed. To verify the correctness of the proposed model, data from the database by V.A. Usol’tsev (2016) on the phytomass of tree fractions (6,617 records) in Eurasian forest plantations have been used. The calculated rank distributions for 95 % of trees of various species of different ages growing in different geographical conditions have a coefficient of determination greater than 0.96, therefore, this model is of a general nature and describes well the relationships between the phytomass fractions of trees. The proposed approach significantly simplifies field measurements, but requires a preliminary assessment of the parameters of the equation of age dynamics for a particular species in specific climatic zones. Calculations of the competition coefficient for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Siberia in the territories of the Tomsk and Novosibirsk Regions, the Altai and Krasnoyarsk Territories based on the data from the database by V.A. Usoltsev show the proximity of the model parameters for trees of the same species growing in different conditions. The use of the developed model makes it possible to estimate the tree phytomass (including root phytomass) using such easily measurable indicators as tree height and stem diameter. An approach has been proposed for determining the phytomass of roots, in which, instead of excavating them, data on the phytomasses of the above-ground fractions of the tree are used.

The Dynamics of Forest Fire Hazard Changes in the Udmurt Republic

2025-04-11T11:30:38+03:00

The main approaches to the organization of monitoring of fire hazardous situations at the regional level and the problems arising in the technical support of such monitoring have been investigated. The aim of this work has been to study the dynamics of changes in fire hazard in forests on the territory of the Udmurt Republic. The variation in the comprehensive fire hazard indicator, observed regardless of the structure of survey plots, has been considered along with data on actual fires in 2011–2023. Due to the significant extent of the territory of Udmurtia, it has been assumed that the comprehensive indicator differs with a change in longitude or latitude, calculated for the maximum number of observation points simultaneously. An application has been developed that collects and displays data and calculates a comprehensive fire hazard indicator for 210 localities over 94 days of the summer period of 2023. The application allows one to evaluate both static data on fires in the past in the form of a “bubble” visualization, and fluctuations in the comprehensive indicator during the fire season. OpenWeather has been used as a weather service, and OpenLayers – as a map data library. The distinctive features of the created application have been: a) displaying the wind direction and fire hazard class at observation points using color markers; b) using a raster map of the region to determine the potential connection between the current fire hazard class and the nature of the forest fund plots. As the study has shown, within each of the 25 municipalities of the region, the actual comprehensive indicator can vary significantly. The results of multi-day monitoring have made it possible to establish a strong correlation (0.88) between the indicator and longitude for populated areas of the Udmurt Republic, and a weak correlation (0.31) between the indicator and latitude. It has been shown that the majority of fires in April–October occur in May – 33.8 % of the total number of cases that have occurred during the period of 2011–2023. The results of the study can be useful for the development and implementation of measures to prevent forest fires and reduce damage from them, as well as for clarifying or validating potential fire zones based on modern approaches.

Spatial Distribution of Pine Forests in the Caucasus

2023-05-01T21:16:36+03:00

An effective approach to studying the factors of distribution of forest-forming species of the Caucasus in conditions of orographic inaccessibility of mountainous areas is a combination of the use of geoinformation systems and the theory of ecological niche in SDM distribution models. Many aspects of this approach remain controversial, including the choice of ecological predictors, the collinearity of variables, the scale effect of the study area, the formalization of biotic factors and the dispersal capacity of species in models. The aim of this study has been to identify patterns of spatial distribution of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests of the Caucasus depending on the area of the analyzed territory. To formalize the biotic factor of pine forest distribution, a method has been proposed for including probability distribution maps of the detection of competing species (birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. litwinowii Doluch.) forests) in the SDM model of P. sylvestris as biotic layers. The factor of pine dispersal capacity (accessibility of territories) has been formalized through the distance from the optimal habitats of the species (areas with a sustainability threshold of 0.8), where the probability of its detection remains above 0.5. A comparative analysis of different sets of abiotic predictors with and without multicollinear variables have revealed the advantages of the model based on the ENVIREM (Environmental Rasters for Ecological Modeling) dataset limited by the VIF (Variance Inflation Factor) test. At the local level (Central Caucasus), the main predictor of the location of pine forests is the accessibility of territories of 0–3 km from optimal habitats (the contribution to the model is about 72 %). At the regional level (Caucasus as a whole), interspecific competition is of great importance (the contribution to the model is about 37 %). The least significant factors in the distribution of pine forests are the main abiotic factors (orography of the area and the temperature and water regime of the driest quarter), the equity particlpation of which in the final models does not exceed 16 %. The species has been found to have a potentially wide distribution in the Caucasus in areas with diverse climatic and orographic conditions (about 21 thousand km²). The centre of the Caucasian pine range is predicted to be in the Central Caucasus (96 % of the optimal habitat area).

Ecological-Cenotic Structure of the Relict Japanese Pine (Pinus × funebris Kom.) Grove in the Primorski Territory

2025-04-11T12:47:04+03:00

The condition and ecological-cenotic (parcel) structure of a grove formed by the Japanese pine (Pinus × funebris Kom.) in the Primorski Territory (Ussuri District) are described. Such groves are the residual fragments of a relict pine formation unique not only for the Region, but also for Russia. They are confined to the dry slopes with southern exposures, which are subject to more frequent forest fires than other ecotopes. This creates a real threat of complete extinction of the relict pine forests. The problem of preserving the formation is consistent with the need to study the spatial (parcel) structure and monitor the state of pine cenoses. A sample plot has been laid out on the slope in the grove, where all the layers of vegetation cover have been described in detail and mapped at a scale of 1:100, followed by a pairwise comparison of schematic maps and allocation of parcels (as interpreted by N.V. Dylis). Detailed observations of the grove have been conducted since 1992. Extreme growing conditions have resulted in a low level of species richness of all communities on the studied and adjacent slopes. The composition of species in the lower layers of the pine grove and the oak forest that has replaced the pine one is the same and is represented by xerophytic flora. There are 2 species growing in the undergrowth of both forest types and 19 in the herbaceous layer. In 2003, 5 parcels have been identified in the grove: 3 with pine dominance (pine sedge one, pine sparsely-covered one, pine with oak forb-sedge one) and 2 with oak dominance (oak with pine (xerophytic) one and oak cow wheat-sedge one). The basis of the grove is a pine sedge parcel with the parent tree stand. The stand began to disintegrate in it, although it has not yet reached a mature age. By 2019, there have remained 4 parcels: due to the transition of pine undergrowth to the stand category, the area of the pine sparsely-covered parcel has distributed between adjacent parcels. The presence of trees of pine undergrowth in good vital condition in the “oak” parcels of trees or pine undergrowth allows us to assume a replacement of oak with pine in these parcels in the foreseeable future, provided there are no fires.