News

Representatives of the Agro-Forestry Crops Research Division were on a scientific expedition in Stepantsminda Municipality

Natalia Togonidze and Nika Gigauri, representatives of the Agro-Forestry Crops Research Division of the LEPL Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture, were on a scientific expedition in Stepantsminda Municipality within the framework of the Young Scientists Support Project “Creation of a Predictive Model of Natural Restoration of Subalpine Spruce Forest”.

The main goal of the expedition was to assess the current ecological state of subalpine birch forests (the main constituent species is Litwinow’s birch – Betula litwinowii) and study natural regeneration processes.

As part of the expedition, scientists studied the successive stages of natural regeneration of the spruce forest and determined the plant composition. The study clearly demonstrated a noticeable change in plant species diversity at different stages of natural regeneration.

This research is an important step towards creating a scientific predictive model that will support the long-term preservation of subalpine forest ecosystems and the planning of effective environmental policies.