Natural Resources, 2000, No.4

PRIRODNYE RESURSY (Natural Resources) Published by The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus & The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus

Number 4; 2000

CONTENTS

Biological Resources

Summary: A substantiation of the necessity of intensification of growing coniferous species in Belarus has been given. A short description of many years and complex researches in the area of plantation forest growing has been provided. According to the results of many-years investigations of coniferous species growing at plantations, technologies were developed, which ensure improvement of the mineral nutrition conditions of wood plants and the possibility of effective machinery and mechanisms application during their management conditions to grow additional produce and an increase of the forest fire security, as well as cardinal improvement of sanitary state of wood-stands and their resistance to root sponge increase. The outcome of qualitative large-scale and balance timber from a unit of area increases by 20...30% and ecological functions of the plantings formed reinforce sharply. It has been stressed, that in forest growing even very effective technologies will not be widely applied due to their produce assignment for the future generations. In these conditions a special actuality acquire management aspects. A great number of disadvantages is described in the existing system of forest cultures evaluation system. An urgency to develop a new "Instructions On the Creation and Growing of Forests In Belarus" has been stated. In these instructions document it is planed to convert forest restoration, forest growing and forest management to a unified interrelated industrial technological system with the use of machinery and mechanisms set; providing consistent realization of all operations of forest cultures planting and their management within a whole term of forest resources reproduction.

Aderikho V. S., Ivkovich V. S., Ivkovich E. N.
Conditions and Dynamics of Ash Woods of Berezinsky Reserve. pp. 14--18.

Summary: Results of the comparative analysis are given of Berezinsky Reserve ash woods phytocoenoses condition of three types (Fraxinetum oxalilidosum, f. aegopodiosum, f. filicosum) for the last 30 years. It has been stated that ash populations despite rather high average tree stand age are characterized by high stability that is determined by the presence of ash in all age and measure groups. Black alder and spruce remain co-dominants in the first layer, but the share of the latter decreases and of the former - increases. The second layer is formed of the same species as the first, but the dominating position belongs to elm and black alder. In the structure of natural renewal strengthening of broad-leaved species role is observed. In the ground cover rich species diversity is kept, dominant species keep prevaling position. In the ecological structure of the ground cover increase is observed of the number and abundance of species exigent to the soil richness and humidity.

Climatic Resources

Summary: Results of the comparative analysis of differences of diurnal temperature amplitudes, maximum and minimum diumal temperatures in the system "rural area -- city "for Belarus and Moldova are presented, as well as the dynamics of their change for the last decades. Principal excess of diumal temperature amplitude in the country above that in a city is marked mainly due to lower night temperatures and higher day time ones in the country. In summer the difference of night temperatures between countryside and city is more essential than the difference in day temperatures. The interregional comparison of parameters of diurnal and annual variation of temperature for different time periods has been carried out. Differences in the system "rural area -- city "for daily variation are more evident in Moldova and the analysis of temporary dynamics shows increase of these differences in the last decades. In summer the increase of interregional differences occurs mainly due to the difference of minimum diurnal (night) temperatures in the system "rural area -- city" while in other seasons it is due to the difference in day temperatures. Decrease of the annual temperature amplitude is marked in both regions. However, in Belarus this decrease occurs mainly due to the increase of minimum (winter) temperature while in Moldova there is also a decrease of maximum temperature (summer). These temperature differences like those of diurnal variations are more evident in Moldova and they tend to increase lately.

Mineral Resources

Summary: Present state of geoecological situation at the Starobin potassium salts deposit has been analysed. It is shown that in the development of the Belarusian potassium production in contrast to other potassium producing countries there is a problem of antagonism of two main concepts -- potassium salts use and environment protection. A number of negative phenomena and processes caused by technogenic loads in Soligorsk industrial area is discussed. A complex of environment protection measures used at PO "Belaruskali", unsolved mining-ecological problems connected to exploitation and processing of sylvinite ores, use and removal of potassium production wastes are considered. In 1999 the Government of Belarus set up "The interdepartmental council for providing scientific and technological support to ecologically safe potassium production", infended for making decisions and coordinating efforts of different ministries and departments for the solution of mining-ecological problems in Soligorsk industrial area.

Water Resources

Summary: The approaches to forecasting of the population supply with ground water have been outlined in the paper. Evaluation of fresh ground water sources of Belarus has been presented on the basis of the developed regional mathematical model "BELARUS" and ifs adjustment to hydrogeological conditions of the disturbed regimes of filtration. The estimation of ground water budget in natural conditions and ifs changes under water intake development have been discussed. The prognosis of water supply in Belarus by underground water up till 2050 has been carried out taking into account permissible drawdowns in liner water intake areas and of water quality changes in the areas with conditionally contaminated surface and ground waters. The problem of evaluation of the mineral waters intrusion has been solved for the existing water intakes. The estimation of the specific rate of safe ground water yield and of consequences of intensive ground water development on the river discharge and subsurface water. Regional regularities of the formation of safe ground water yield and the structure of their temporal variations have been determined.

Nature Management

Summary: Basic definitions and principles of constructing production expert systems (ES), their assignment and tasks to be solved in various spheres of human activity have been considered. The description of the structure, composition and contents of multipurpose ES regarding realisation offunctions of state ecological examination of projects and solutions of non-formalized management tasks by experts, decision-makers and users was carried out regarding nature-managing and nature-protection activity of the Ministry of Nature resources of the Republic of Belarus. The description of tasks, solved by the ES, of all blocks, functional structure, information and program provision of the system is given. An information (subject) model and canonic ES structure have been regarded, that implement the functions of information search and any users' requests of experts and decision-makers toward information elements in knowledge bases. Data for the solution of functional tasks have been regarded, the technological process of the functioning of the model of data search at all levels of the expert system hierarchy is described.

Savchenko S. V., Bambalov N. N., Rakovich V. A.
Biosphere Functions ot Floodplain Ecosystems. pp. 59--61.

Summary: Floodplain ecosystems are multifunction components of the biosphere with its laws of existence and development. There is a close interaction between the elements inside the system and different factors from the outside. The fluvial apron plains take the lowest place in the relief. Therefore floodplain ecosystems integrate the information on a drainage basin. They are one of the most informative natural objects. The fluvial apron plains, alongside with swamps,belong to aregional landscape complexes and have a series of similar features. Their ecological and biosphere significance is reflected in those functions, which they fulfil in nature and society. Based on the classification of swamp biosphere functions, it is possible to determine some biosphere functions: accumulative-power, transport, biological, geochemical, landscape-geomorphological, hydro-logical, climatic. With the increase of floodplain use for human economic activities they have gained social-economic functions: historical, resource and recreational. There are four levels of development of these functions in nature: space, epicyclic, regional, object. The majority of the above mentioned functions is exhibited at several levels and is in close interaction and interdependent. Change of any function as a result of outside intervention in natural processes results in the change or destruction of one or several floodplain ecosystem components.

Kosov V. I., Shulgin D. F., Maslennikov A. V.
Mathematical Modeling and Prognosis of Pollutants Migration in Eutrophic Peat Deposits. pp. 62--67.

Summary: Natural ecosystems of peat mires possess a great sorption capacity for purifying wastewater from technical and biogenic pollutants since mire peat associates, suspended substances and organomineral complex have effective selfpurifying features. The two-dimension mathematical model of pollutant transfer with wastewater dumped to a flowing eutrophic mire has been considered. Assessment has been done of the following phenomena influence on the distribution of polluting substances: longitudinal and cross hydraulic disperse, biochemical transformation, absorption with peat and sapropel deposits, Test computer calculations have been made which allowed to get convinced that the offered mathematical model correctly reflects physical sense of the simulated phenomena.

Chubanov K. D., Arabei N. M., Kirkovskii K. K., Pikulik N. I.
Accumulation of Lead, Zinc and Cadmium in Green Plants of Minsk. pp. 68--75.

Summary: While studying the influence of technogenic releases on the growth and development of plants in large cities, concentration of lead, zinc and cadmium was determined by atomic emission method in assimilation organs of Colorado spruce, red chestnut, eagle maple and small-leaved limes growing in five testing sites in Minsk with different contamination rates. It has been shown that lead concentration in the mentioned species exceeds threshold values (6.0 mg/kg) by the end of vegetation period and in some cases reaches maximum permissible concentration (10 mg/kg) and even exceeds it. However, in general lead accumulation in leaves corresponds to normal for plant values (4.86.. .5.83 mg/kg) and does not depend much on the plant species. Needles of spruce accumulate lead in general 3.69 mg/kg, i. e. 1.5 times less. Zinc is accumulated in assimilation organs of all investigated ligneous species 2...3 times more than in comparison with its average content (50 mg/kg) necessary for the normal growth of plants but lower than threshold values. Cadmium content in the mentioned plants does not exceed background values that make up in general 7.0 mg/kg. Leaves of small-leaved limes accumulate the largest amount of lead, zinc and cadmium. Spruce accumulates these elements 2 times less in comparison with red chestnut, eagle maple and small-leaved lime.

Gaponenko V. I., Matsko V. P., Bondar Yu. I., Kravchenko V. A., Suchover L. K., Shamal N. V., Barybin L. N.. Levosechko S. I.
Correlation Between the Coefficents of Accumulation of Radionuclides by Plants and the Specific Activity of Soil. pp. 76--83.

Summary: During the Chernobyl accident repeated releases of great amount of radionuclides took place and considerable territories were polluted. In order to forecast the possibility of human life in such conditions, specific studies are needed. However, it is also very important to reveal general regularities of transfer and accumulation of nuclides in different links of biosphere, in particular, in the system soil plant. As a result of investigations conducted in Brest, Gomel and Mogilev regions, an opposite correlation between the coefficients of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr accumulation (ratio of phytomass specific activity -- SAP, Bq/kg and soil specific activity -- SAS, Bq/kg) was determined. This relates both to different plant species composing agro- and phytocenoses and different soil types and to the same species and the same soil type, both to cultivated lands and to non-cultivated (reserve) plots. The detected regularity is grounded by the equations of straight line calculated by the method of least squares and correlation coefficients. Their statistical reliability is confirmed by normalized deviation by Student's criterion. The obtained results testify to the existence of a "threshold" in the absorption of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr by plants and allow to conclude that in future, at probable decrease of radionuclide concentration in soil, the share of radionuclides absorbed by plants will grow. This is to be taken into account when solving the problems of rehabilitation of areas polluted as a result of the Chernobyl accident.

Goncharova N. V.
Wild Plants-Bioindicators of Ecological Consequences of Chernobyl NPP Accident for Flora. pp. 84--89.

Summary: The paper presents results of the study carried out in 1987--1999 of seed progeny of dominating species of herbaceous of PSRR, which developed on maternal plants in 30-km zone in the conditions of chronic irradiation of phytocoenosis. An made assessment was made of fecundating ability of dominating species pollen and assessment of physiological -- biochemical alteration indices (pH-test, peroxides activity, seed material quality) and genetical disturbances (assessment of mutation processes intensity) under the impact of radiation factor. New testing systems were used for the assessment of radiation damage of plants on the territory contaminated with radiation. They can be used in the study of radiation processes of natural populations and communities of plants in the future generations. The suggested approach to study the alterations in populations of chronically exposed plants plays the role of a "biological decimetre" indicating with maximum precision unfavourable changes in environment.

Tanovitsky I. G., Selivonchik T. V.
Ecological Rehabilitotion of Anthropogenically Destroyed Areas ot The Peat Site "Yurіevo". pp. 90--92.

Summary: Complex approach to rational use of the worked out areas of the peat site "Yurievo" is considered on the basis of carried out researches in the view of nature protection. Nature protection functions of the peat site and three lakes (Great, Small, Svyatets) were revealed which have common water catchment area and represent a uniform lake-mire complex, the elements of which are connected to each other a common hydro-geological mode and course of physical-geographical processes. It is established that ecological rehabilitation of anthropogenically destroyed worked out areas of the peat site it is necessary to carry out by the method of repeated bogging up. It is expedient to set up protected area for restoration of the former nature protection functions in this territory. Smolevichy regional executive committee has accepted the decision on creation of the protected area of hydrological value Gaino -- Brodnya with the area of 1300 ha on the basis of scientific substantiation provided by the Institute for Problems of Natural Resources Use and Ecology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

Kabushko A. M.
Economic Programming of the Nature Use. pp. 93--98.

Summary: Reasonability of a more wide use of analytical and purposeful methods in the nature use regulation and the development of flexible ways of solving territorial complex ecological programs is considered in the article. The economic programming is treated as a system of the state regulation of economy on the basis of complex and multipurpose programs that feature preferable ways of production development and the strategic idea of the social and economic policy. The conceptual difference between programming as a system of flexible regulation and hard directive management is especially emphasized. In order to regulate the process of nature use, it is necessary to know possible directions of its development (forecasting). Secondly, it is necessary to find the best ways of solution (optimization) in order to be able to correct its course. Such adjustments are the essence of the economic regulation which must be treated as elaboration of management efforts directed to the removal of the outlined deviations from the preferable ways of the development of the ecological and economic system. The article describes the American experience in the field of developing organizational mechanism of nature use regulation. It also reflects the main principles of the ecological policy -- prevention of the ecological consequences, its neutralization and damage compensation. Considerations are given concerning the possibilities of the positive foreign experience use in the field of nature use regulation in Belarus.

Tarasyonok A. I.
Opportunities for Nature Protection Network Improving by the Use ot Recreational Territories. pp. 99--108.

Summary: The system of especially protected natural territories (EPNT) needs to be optimizated. One of the ways to improve nature protection network is to create recreational preserves and landscape-tourist parks. Recreational preserves and landscape-tourist parks can be created in zones of rest. It will help natural recreational resources to be protected by the Legislation of the Republic of Belarus. Thus, EPNT will become similar to those in some European countries (Poland, Lithuania). To prove the practical need of such an improvement, an analysis was made of the factors which influence on the location of zones for rest and existing EPNT: natural-ecological (regional natural conditions), agro-economical (agrolandscape types), demographic (demographic potential). Cartographic method, Lorens graphic method, Larasfeld method of the analysis of latent structures have been used. Due to them, the expediency of inclusion of rest zones into EPNT system has been proved. Recreational preserves will enable to consider recreational activity as an environmental protection factor and agroeconomical activity restriction factor. The article may be of interest from the methodical point of view.

Protected Objects of Nature

Summary: The state hydrological (lake) reserve was established in 1979 based on a large group of lakes (Dolginskaya group) as an example of a large strictly protected area. The reserve area is about 9.50 km² including the lake Beloye area (0.59 km²). During nature survey inventory of the main components of natural complexes in the reserve "Beloye" was carried out. Complex characteristic of the lake Beloye was given -- the peculiarities of trough morphology, water balance, hydrochemecal regime and ground sediments were shown. The distinctions of the closed round territories belonging to selvage of Sventyano-Vitebsk stage of Poozerie freezing. During flora and fauna inventory the characteristic of plants and animals communities in the lake and closed round territories was given. The vegetation habitats of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna from "The Red Data Book of the Republic of Belarus" including 7 species of vascular plants and 2 species of birds were determined. Within the reserve territory unique nature formations (springs) and objects (coppice of Karelian birch and spinney of rare decorative fern) were found. The evaluation of anthropogenic effect on the reserve nature complexes and of the degree of economic use of its territory is given. The influence of different forms of anthropogenic effect, first of all water reservoir pollution, and closed round territories transformation as a result of agriculture production is shown. Suggestions are given to change the reserve status from the state hydrological (lake) reserve to the state landscape reserve and the existing borders. A complex of management, agricultural and hydrotechnical measures was proposed, for conservation of the unique landscape complex in ifs natural state and creating conditions for conservation of flora and fauna complexes including rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

Fedoruk A. T.
Estate-Park Architecture of Grodno Region: History, Styles, Problems of Use and State Protection. pp. 117--124.

Summary: According to the convention about the world heritage, special attention is given in the world to old estates and parks. The author has studied 300 objects as the richest cultural and historical heritage in the region. But only 188 objects exist now, more than 37,3 percent are lost. According to the degree of safety the objects are classified as estates (39), parks (28), fragments of estates and parks (46 and 13), individual fragments (29) and separate architectural constructions (33). Estates of the region evolved from old fortified yards to well-built Renascence complexes and artistic ensembles in baroque. The periods of classicism and romanticism are represented very well. The estates built informs of eclecticism and modernist style have a variety of architectural forms and evident utility. Plant ings of frees include local kinds in the parks. They have reached the age of their ripeness and high rate of decoration. Eclecticism naturalistic parks have the most valuable dendrological structure. In spite of material value and cultural and historical importance most of the estates are destroying. The old parks are the valuable recreational resource, but they dont have the proper functional use. The problem of the estate architecture should be solved taking into account the following aspects: creative knowledge of the experience about creation of the estates, parks, water systems; critical revision of the possibilities of their functional use; state protection with a compulsory establishment of historical borders and protected areas (140 objects are recommended for protection); control of the monuments state; reconstruction or restoration of the objects in the future. It is impossible to loose our heritage. The monuments dont have any alternative. They must be saved and used reasonably.

Discussions

Summary: This article gives an account of methodology of comprehensive appraisal of sustainable regional development when the level of social welfare of the population is taken as an indicator. The index of social welfare calculated for administrative units of Mogilyov region has a reliable rank correlation with the quality and standard of living of the population, health rate, urbanization rate, sustainability of social-economic, demographic and ecological development. Thus, it precisely depicts social-economic, demographic, ecological and medical-demographic situation. So, this index can be used as a comprehensive indicator of sustainable regional development. The main feature of regional development today is the increasing territorial disproportion in the quality and standard of living. Large cities are becoming "islands" of relative social welfare along with increasing poverty rate, disindustrialization and naturalization of agriculture in outlying districts. The methodology of comprehensive appraisal of sustainable regional development suggested in the article can be used for comprehensive regional monitoring, improving regional social-economic, investment, demographic and ecological policy, constructing sustainable regions or reduction of territorial disproportion in the quality and standard of living.

Scientific Communications

Summary: Accumulation parameters and variation ranges of the content of major fractions of soluble sugars --glucose, fructose and saccharose; pectin substances -- hydropectin and protopectin, starch, cellulose in some organs and overground phytomass of rough-fruited cinguefoil when introduced in Belarus. It has been established that carbohydrate composition of rough-fruited cinguefoil green mass is characterized by expressed lability during vegetation period with prevailing accumulation of the majority of its components in assimilative and generative organs. Among the mentioned carbonhydrate components of rough-fruited cinguefoil the most active is biosynthesis of pectin substances, the content of which overground phytomass reaches 8,4%, thus making the plant promising for medicinal purposes as a potential source of these compounds. Profiling tendencies have been shown in seasonal dynamics of carbohydrates in some organs of the plant and overground phytomass on the whole. Since maximum level of pectins in plant phytomass is observed at the stage of mass budding, it is advisable to collect it Just then.

Levitskii I.A., Radchenko Yu. S.
Colour Pigment-Free Glazes on the Basis of Magmatic Raw Materials of Belarus. pp. 137--139.

Summary: The object of the investigation is fritting colour glazes for ceramic products. The purpose of the work is investigation of the possibility of the synthesis of pigment-free colour fusible glazes on the basis of magmatic rocks of Belarus, study of the processes forming facture and structure of glazes coating, estimation of their properties. The possibility of getting pigment-free colour glazes on the basis of Belarussian diabases has been explored. The syntheses of glazes was conducted on the basis of system R₂O -- RO -- B₂O₃ -- Al₂O₃ --FeO(Fe₂O₃) -- SiO₂ (where R₂O = Na₂O + K₂O, RO = CaO + MgO). Conducted studies have shown that the amount of diabases in the composition of glaze can make up from 30 to 60 %. Moreover, the additives of boric acid, quartz sand, soda ash, chalk are used. Synthesised glasses are characterised by good technological properties. The obtained glazing coatings are characterised by a broad colour scheme: from red-brown to yellow-green tones and different facture: from dull to gloss coatings. The processes of forming facture and structure of coat ings depending on the chemical composition of glazes and the character of main crystal phases (hematite, augite, anortite, magnetite) have been studied. Temperature and time conditions of forming qualitative coatings have been determined. The advantage of synthesised glazes is the reduction of consumption of components, colouring oxides and pigments.

Chronicle

A.S. Meyerovsky
International Scientific Conference "Ecological-Economic Principles of Effective Use of Ameliorated Lands". pp. 141--142.

P.A. Kovrigo
International Scientific Conference "Scientific and Applied Aspects of on Estimation of Changes of a Climate and Usage of Climatic Resources". pp. 143--144.