Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The conservation initiative "Biodiversity Conservation and Development of the Potential of the Buzuluk Forest National Park" is being implemented with the support of MTS and the Zapovednoye Posledstvo Foundation. In one of the country's most fire-vulnerable federal protected areas, fire suppression and its aftermath are being addressed in several ways. Trees were planted in the area where the forest burned, a seminar on modern forest fire suppression methods was held, and the necessary equipment was purchased. Future projects include agricultural management at the forest planting sites, the creation of video tutorials on fire prevention and suppression, and extensive preventative work.
The project began with MTS volunteers planting pine seedlings on a one-hectare plot. This is part of the Borskoye Forestry of the National Park, which was damaged by a major forest fire in 2021. The seedlings, with closed root systems, were grown in the Buzuluk Pine Forest's own tree nursery. This is only the first stage of reforestation: volunteers will continue to visit the Buzuluk Pine Forest to assist during the growing season, until the trees reach one meter in height, and to plant another three and a half hectares of forest.
"Planting seedlings is just the tip of the iceberg called 'post-fire forest restoration.' You need to clear the burned area, grow the seedlings in a nursery, plant them, and then devote several years to agricultural maintenance—regular weeding, loosening the soil, fertilizing, protecting the tiny trees from soil burying them, sand drift, soil erosion, and blowing away, among other things. We're thrilled that MTS volunteers are committed to more than just 'planting trees once,' but to supporting the future of the forest for several years," emphasized Ksenia Gasparyan, Development Director of the Nature Conservation Embassy Foundation.
Another important stage was a seminar on modern methods of fighting forest fires. National park inspectors, students from the volunteer fire brigade of the Buzuluk Forestry Technical School, and employees of Samarales and the Ministry of Emergency Situations studied the theory and practice of this complex field. The training was conducted by Grigory Kuksin, Associate Professor of the Department of Forest Protection, Conservation, and Regeneration at the All-Russian Institute for Advanced Training in Forestry Specialists and founder of the Center for the Prevention of Landscape Fires. He is one of the most respected experts in the field of wildfire prevention and suppression in the country.
Grigory emphasized that firefighting efforts at Buzuluk Forest aren't starting from scratch. The team has the unfortunate but rewarding experience of extinguishing numerous fires, as it's one of the most fire-prone federal protected areas in Russia. However, new climate conditions are making protecting this forest increasingly challenging. Therefore, it's essential to continually maintain skills, seek new technical solutions, and implement preventative measures. This is precisely what the seminar participants were doing.
"Our team at the Landscape Fire Prevention Center, with the support of the Nature Conservation Embassy Foundation, spent a week working with national park staff to find the best solutions. We looked at satellite images of past fires and historical fire maps spanning centuries, discussed the causes of man-made fires and ways to reduce their incidence. We held tactical training sessions with the security service, practical training with new equipment, and practiced various firefighting techniques and methods, using hand tools, fire trucks, and motorized pumps simultaneously, so that we could effectively combine the efforts of all responding services during a fire. We are truly inspired by the entire team's commitment to this work," noted Grigory Kuksin.
Grigory Kuksin will also be the speaker in a series of video tutorials currently being created by experts from the Zapovednoye Polusta Foundation. In this series, we will aim to share the latest knowledge and experience with forest firefighters and volunteers from other protected areas. All materials will be made publicly available once completed.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.