The importance of beech forests in the preservation of valuable species of the flora of Dagestan

Mountain Botanical Garden of DFRC RAS, Makhachkala, Russia

^* Corresponding author: alievxu@mail.ru

Abstract

Forests dominated by Fagus orientalis Lipsky play the greatest role in maintaining the ecological balance in the Caucasian Isthmus. Beech, having a high edificatory effect, contributes to the formation of a unique composition of the flora. In Dagestan, beech forests are located at the edge of their range in the relatively arid conditions of the Eastern Caucasus. The studied forests are rich in Hyrcanic and Colchian relict and endemic elements. In this regard, it became necessary to identify the most valuable areas of beech forests and take urgent measures to preserve them. The work is devoted to the study of the importance of beech forests in the preservation of 88 species of relict, endemic and protected species of the flora of Dagestan. Based on the data of geobotanical descriptions of 73 test plots, with a total area of 45625 m², an environmental assessment of the value of phytocenoses is given. In total, 19 associations have been identified in the beech forests of Dagestan. Disjunctive growth of some species was noted in the beech forests of the republic. The most valuable are beech forests growing in the refugia of Low and Foothill Dagestan, where there is a reduction in areas due to negative anthropogenic impact. In high-mountainous beech forests, no reduction in areas is observed, and forest fires, which have been observed more and more often in recent years, remain the main limiting factor. The data on the inclusion of the most valuable areas of beech forests in the protected areas, and for some areas already included in the protected areas, recommendations are given on the introduction of a special regime of use in them.