FORESTS

FORESTS, a type of vegetation, represented by numerous plant life forms, among which the primary role belongs to trees. In 2011, the gross timber area was 6.3 million ha, including 5.2 million ha covered by F. The total ratio of the territory covered with F. is 39.9%. In the mountain‑forest zone of the Bashkir South Urals 81.2–92% of the territory is covered with F., while in the Bashkir Trans‑Urals and the South Bashkir piedemont of the Urals less than 10% of the territory is covered with F. There are coniferous, deciduous and mixed F. in the Republic. The following F. can be distinguished: F. of the forest zone (mountainous S. Taiga, pine and birch F. in the mid‑mountain part of the Southern Ural, mixed broad‑leaved coniferous F. of the Ufa Plateau, plain broadleaf dark‑needled F. of Kamsko‑BelskoTanypsky Interfluve, mixed broadleaf F. of Western peidmont of Southern Urals), forest‑steppe zone (Northern Birsky Forest Steppe, Mesyagutovsky Forest Steppe, Sothern forest steppe of Sterlibashevsko­ Fyodorovskaya Upland, Belebey Upland, Southern forest steppe of Pribelye Lowland, mountain forest steppe of Eastern and Southern piedmonts of Southern Urals), and steppe zone, which adheres to Ural mountains from southern‑east side. The forests of the Republic, with area of thous. of ha, are represented by birch forests (1436.4 ha), lime‑groves (1113.1 ha), pine forests (795.0 ha), aspen forests (766.0), spruce forests and fir forests (327.9), oak forests (267.1), maple forests (160.1), larch forests (45,5), Siberian cedar plantations (0.2). In accordance with the economic and environmental value, there are 3 groups of F. known in the RB. The first group comprises reserves, national and natural parks, forests of health resorts, cities and settlements, as well as water protection and anti‑erosion forests. They cover the area of 1,360.4 thous. ha (34.0% of the area of all F.). The second group, F. of protective and of limited human use cover the area of 1,365.1 ha (24.1%), while the third group, F. actively used by humans for production purposes and those reserved for future use, cover the area of 2,642.1 ha (41.9%).