Prospects for expanding the green forest belt of the city of Smolensk

Aim. To analyze the changes in the green belt of the city of Smolensk that occurred from 2017 to 2022.

Methodology. The main research methods that were used in the work are field research, statistical and cartographic methods. The authors analyzed scientific, regulatory and legal sources, information abstracted from the Unified State Register of Real Estate. This data covers the conditions of the use of the territories. The observations covered the period from 2017 to 2022.

Results. One of the main areas of environmental protection is the creation of protected areas at various levels. The Smolensk region was the first in Russia to organize a green forest belt around the city of Smolensk in 2017. Maps of the green protective belt of the city of Smolensk and a separate new cluster – Pasovsky – forest were compiled. The transition of the protected area “Vyazovenka – Pasovsky forest” from the rank of protected areas of local significance to a natural monument of regional significance will allow preserving territories that are valuable in scientific, ecological, recreational, aesthetic terms.

There is a unique natural complex of the territory, which includes valuable tree species and plantations of Siberian larch, exotic for the zone of mixed (coniferous-deciduous) forests.

The forest pathological study of tree plantations showed that the main diseases common in the park are necrosis-cancer and rot diseases of trees. Manifestations of diseases are noted in 15–20% of the forest.

Currently, work is underway to increase its size and form an effective spatial structure by including additional territories located in different parts of the city and suburbs, which will create a full-fledged environmental shield for the city of Smolensk.

Creation of the protected area of the regional level “Vyazovenka – Pasovsky Forest” will preserve natural complexes that are well accessible to the residents of Smolensk, on the territory of which rational nature management is possible, as well as the organization and conduct of monitoring studies and effective control over compliance with environmental legislation.

Research implications. The study of actual changes in the green belt of the city of Smolensk was performed for the first time. A quantitative and qualitative assessment of the changes that have taken place in the protected area “Vyazovenka – Pasovsky forest” is given. The results obtained will contribute to understanding how the development of green areas will affect the improvement of the ecological state of the urban environment.

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