The purpose of this study is to present the forestry complex development scenarios of the Republic of Karelia and the Murmansk region. Based on the use of factor analysis and cluster analysis, 27 central foresters of the study region were divided into 9 clusters according to 20 indicators. The selected indicators took into account the characteristics of wood resources, natural-production conditions and road infrastructure. Based on cluster profiles, as well as on topographical, climatic, soil map and vegetation maps, scenarios for the development of the study region forestry complex in the context of the resulting clusters. The results of the study showed that as they move from south to north, a gradual impoverishment of wood resources occurs. The efforts of the state and business should be aimed at resolving issues of road infrastructure, involving deciduous, small, energy wood in production circulation. Given the natural and production conditions, which are largely determined by the moist forest soils and the extreme vulnerability of the northern ecosystems, in the process of logging, it is especially necessary to pay attention to the minimization of the negative impact of logging operations on the soil cover.

Keywords: zoning, forest industry, factor analysis, cluster analysis, k-means cluster analysis, logging, forest management

Maintaining the optimal age structure of the forestry fund is an important factor in the use of forest resources. The purpose of this study was to analyze the age structure of the forestry fund of exploitation forests of the Republic of Karelia. For this purpose, data on the age structure of the forest fund by species groups was collected for 17 central forest districts of the study region. Data sources were forest planning documents. The results of the study showed that coniferous forests predominate in the Republic of Karelia. Deciduous tree species are more widely represented in the southern part of the study region. Deciduous and coniferous forests have different age structures. Young stock, mature timber and overmature forest predominate. At the same time, Young stocks are predominantly represented by coniferous forests. A small proportion of forest approaching maturity is one of the fundamental problems of the region under study, as it helps to curb the increase in logging volumes.

Keywords: forest resources, logging, age structure, coniferous species, deciduous species, ripening forests

The purpose of this study was to assess the forest exploitation conditions of the central forestries of the Republic of Karelia and the Murmansk region. To do this, data were collected for 27 central forestries of the study region, representing 20 variables characterizing indicators of wood resources, natural production conditions and road infrastructure. The assessment of forest exploitation conditions was carried out on the basis of the developed system of indicators, which includes 5 indicators: the value of the exploitation fund; the representativeness of the territory to the natural conditions of growth of deciduous species and the level of allowable cutting area for softwood farming; representativeness of the territory with favorable natural and production conditions in the study region; size of allowable cuts for coniferous economy; and the quality of the road network. The indicators were factors extracted by the method of principal axes in the process of factor analysis. Factors explained 81.4% of the total variance of the 20 variables initially selected. The results of the study showed that two groups of forest areas are distinguished in terms of the average forest reserve: the forest areas of the Murmansk region, which are characterized by a low average reserve, and the forest areas of the Republic of Karelia. Four central forestries located in the southern part of the Republic of Karelia are distinguished by the level of reserves in the forests of deciduous tree species and the level of allowable cut for deciduous farming. The most favorable natural and production conditions are forest areas located in the southern part of the Republic of Karelia.

Keywords: logging, natural and production conditions, factor analysis, Karelia, Murmansk region, timber resources