The rapid and accurate estimation of aboveground forest phytomass remains a challenging research task. In general, methods for estimating phytomass fall mainly into the category of field measurements performed by ground-based methods, but approaches based on remote sensing and ecological modelling have been increasingly applied. The aim is to develop the scientific and methodological framework for the remote sensing estimation of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of forest stands, using the combination of surveys and machine learning models to determine phytomass of forest stands and calculate the carbon balance. Even-aged stands of different tree species growing in the forest steppe zone of the East European Plain were chosen as test objects. We have applied the modernized methodological approaches to compare and integrate forest and tree stand characteristics obtained by ground-based and UAV-based comprehensive surveys; additionally, we developed computer vision models and methods for determining the same characteristics by remote sensing methods. The key advantage of the proposed methodology for remote monitoring and carbon balance control over existing analogues is the minimization of the amount of groundwork and, consequently, the reduction inlabor costs without loss of information quality. Reliable data on phytomass volumes will allow for operational control of the forest carbon storage, which is essential for decision-making processes. This is important for the environmental monitoring of forests and green spaces of various economic categories. The proposed methodology is necessary for the monitoring and control of ecological–climatic and anthropogenic–technogenic transformations in various landscapes. The development is useful for organizing the management of ecosystems, environmental protection, and managing the recreational and economic resources of landscapes with natural forests and forest plantations.

Vast forest areas are spreaded in Russia and perform environment-forming, nature-protective and climate-regulating functions, including carbon sequestration. At the same time, increasing of destructive forest fires scale in recent decades has led to depletion of forest resources. To combat forest fires, it is necessary to develop preventive measures to reduce the number and severity of forest fires and establish reliable evaluation criteria for fire hazard assessment in forestry. However, indices of fire hazard assessment that exist in Russia are not always allowed to determine the degree of fire hazard reliably. The studies were performed in pine forests on the territory of the Central Forest-Steppe. The key forestry factors influencing the fire hazard situation in pine stands are identified: the presence and amount of combustible materials, the state of the stand, as well as the age structure of tree stand. According to burning indices, the highest fire hazard was common for young and middle-aged pine stands, while for ripening, mature and old-growth forests, fire hazard increasing was not observed. A set of parameters that characterize soil moisture and ground cover peculiarities have also a significant impact. Forest growth conditions were shown to be an important indicator for assessment of fire hazard class. Identified factors that have a key impact on the fire hazard in forests will make it possible to improve methodological approach for monitoring and preservation of forests.

The article presents the results of the seven-year study on the state of arable lands and wastewaters in the districts of mining enterprises in Armenia. An assessment of the ecological and toxicological state of wastewaters and contaminated areas was carried out. Methods for their purification are proposed aimed at their further use and obtainment of environmentally safe agricultural products. An area of about 0.5 ha, next to the rural community of Syunik in southern Armenia, has been polluted for many years by mining sludges from the nearest mine watertight cofferdam of the Zangezur copper-molybdenum combine. Activities have been carried out to clean up the soil in this area. After plowing, soil improvers (zeolite, bentonite, and manure) were introduced into the soil. On-site treatments, soil tillage, and the introduction of soil improvers into the soil was implemented in late autumn. Soil and plant samples were taken to determine the content of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, Mo, Ni). In the following spring, the area was planted with potatoes, eggplant, and peas. A rather high yield was obtained. Analysis of plant samples showed that the content of heavy metals does not exceed the permissible level of the international food safety standard. At the same time, soil studies were carried out in the adjacent areas of the Sotk mine, located to the southeast of Lake Sevan. It was revealed that due to the increase in the volume of the mining industry and the amount of rock dumps, the organoleptic and chemical indicators of the waters of the Sotk and Masrik rivers deteriorated. Compared to the previous decade, the amounts of suspended particles per 1 L of water have increased by 210…317.0%, in the waters of Sotk—by 32.1 mg/L, and in the waters of Masrik—by 13.2 mg/L. The same tendency is observed regarding the amounts of nitrates, sulfates, and hydrogen index, which is mainly due to the chemical composition of rocks. They contain a large amount of Ca, K, Na, Mg, etc. This trend is especially noticeable along the rivers, where intensive agriculture, primarily livestock farming is carried out. The material of the work solves a complex of environmental and economic problems. It is aimed at ensuring environmental safety, improving the ecological and resource properties of soils, increasing the productivity of cultural phytocenoses and the sanitary and hygienic quality of food products.

Green plantings of the cities perform a number of important functions which provide ecological needs of cities population for a healthy surrounding medium, and his needs for communication with wildlife. The comparative analysis of species of wood plants of the towns of the Voronezh region (Borisoglebsk and Novokhopersk) was carried out. 110 types (to Borisoglebsk) and 91 species (to Novokhopersk) species of trees and bushes are registered. The systematic structure which showed a dominance of angiospermous plants that in general is characteristic of the urbanized territories. The range of geographical elements is presented by three types (European-West Asian – 35% and 40%, European – 30% and 26%, North -American – 14% and 21%). The prevailing life forms of the cities are trees, they make 56% and 60% respectively. Researchers showed, in the cities of east part of the Voronezh region many types of various origin can grow that helps to solve problems in gardening, afforestation and an agrarian and forest melioration, in creation of dendrology nurseries for the purpose of maintaining a genetic variety and the subsequent introduction of wood plants and bushes in culture.

The ability of a number of microorganisms isolated from highly magnetic soil of the city Mednogorsk to oxidize Fe (II) under conditions of periodic cultivation in a liquid medium was studied. Among the studied microorganisms, two microbial isolates with maximum growth characteristics and iron-oxidizing activity were selected and identified: Bacillus megaterium 69.3 and B. megaterium 69.5. Individual levels of metal resistance of the isolates were determined: maximum tolerated concentration (MTC) for Fe (II) of the isolates B. megaterium 69.3 and B. megaterium 69.5 was 1200 mg L⁻¹, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 1800 mg L⁻¹. Both microbial isolates actively oxidized Fe (II) by reducing its high concentration in the medium (1.19 g L⁻¹) by 33 and 39% during 14 days of culturing. Total increase in the biomass of B. megaterium 69.3 and B. megaterium 69.5 after 14 days of culturing was 15.3 and 14.7 g L⁻¹; the active parts of the biomass increased 8.7- and 6.9-fold compared to the inoculum dose, respectively. These microbial isolates could be used in future in the biotechnological process of water purification with increased/high levels of Fe (II).

Aim: to assess the aesthetic appeal of tree and shrub plantations of urban ecosystems (for example, the settlements of Central Russia). The research is implemented on the example of common, special and limited use plantations. Environmental diagnostics aesthetic qualities of the plantings carried out on the basic biological and ecological signs. The paper considers one of the key indicators of the environmental comfort, taking into account anthropogenic impacts. It is the decorative effect of tree and shrub plantations. These plants make the basis of an autotrophic component of the urban systems of Central Russia and form the functional core of their ecological frameworks. A high level of decorative plantings of woody plants and shrubs in the research areas was established. The highest points of decorative plantings were found in the town of Novokhopersk and in the urban village of Gribanovsky. In the region under consideration reliable differences in esthetic qualities of tree and shrub plantations are revealed. Planting of trees and shrubs have a high aesthetic appeal. It characterizes the degree of culture of urban landscapes and technogenic pressure upon them. The results obtained can be used in the system of environmental monitoring of the urban environment in Central Russia.