The Forest belt of Genko
Encyclopedia
Genko's Forest Belt - is a system of historic forest belt
s in Russia's Ulyanovsk Oblast
. Planted over a century ago, it is now considered a "natural monument", and is legally protected as one of the protected areas of Ulyanovsk Oblast
.
forest belt
planting was carried out in this area. The project was initiated by the well-known Russian forester, Nestor Karlovich Genko
(1839-1904). The windbreak
forest strips planted under his plan are still considered both to be beneficial for the local agriculture and to be of interest for researchers.
The forest strips' total area is 1,261 hectare
s.
Construction work, agricultural activity, felling of trees (except for removal of dead trees etc for the forest maintenance purposes) are prohibited in the forest strip.
Buffer strip
A buffer strip is an area of land maintained in permanent vegetation that helps to control air, soil, and water quality, along with other environmental problems, dealing primarily on land that is used in agriculture. Buffer strips trap sediment, and enhance filtration of nutrients and pesticides by...
s in Russia's Ulyanovsk Oblast
Ulyanovsk Oblast
Ulyanovsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the Volga Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Ulyanovsk...
. Planted over a century ago, it is now considered a "natural monument", and is legally protected as one of the protected areas of Ulyanovsk Oblast
Protected areas of Ulyanovsk Oblast
-Natural Monuments:* Wood Pearl* Relic woods* Akshuatian dendopark* Greater springs* The Mountain pine forest* The Source of Sviyaga River* The Forest belt of Genko* Cretaceous steppes from karagana* Upper Jurassic deposits of Gorodishchi* Island «Borok»...
.
History
In 1886-1903, watershed protectionWatershed management
Watershed management is the study of the relevant characteristics of a watershed aimed at the sustainable distribution of its resources and the process of creating and implementing plans, programs, and projects to sustain and enhance watershed functions that affect the plant, animal, and human...
forest belt
Buffer strip
A buffer strip is an area of land maintained in permanent vegetation that helps to control air, soil, and water quality, along with other environmental problems, dealing primarily on land that is used in agriculture. Buffer strips trap sediment, and enhance filtration of nutrients and pesticides by...
planting was carried out in this area. The project was initiated by the well-known Russian forester, Nestor Karlovich Genko
Nestor Genko
Nestor Karlovich Genko was a Russian forester, known for creation of the world's first major watershed protection forest belt system, Genko's Forest Belt, located in the east of Ulyanovsk Oblast.- References :...
(1839-1904). The windbreak
Windbreak
A windbreak or shelterbelt is a plantation usually made up of one or more rows of trees or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter from the wind and to protect soil from erosion. They are commonly planted around the edges of fields on farms. If designed properly, windbreaks around a...
forest strips planted under his plan are still considered both to be beneficial for the local agriculture and to be of interest for researchers.
Current state
The plantings are in a good condition, and naturally regenerate. In some areas, they are already composed of the second generation of trees. The most common tree species occurring in the forest strips are: oak, maple, pine, birch, linden, elm.The forest strips' total area is 1,261 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s.
Construction work, agricultural activity, felling of trees (except for removal of dead trees etc for the forest maintenance purposes) are prohibited in the forest strip.