The forest fund lands are unevenly distributed among municipalities of the Ladoga Region showing a clear tendency for the resource growth eastwards. Degree of forest cutting is also uneven depending on availability of forest resources and accessibility of the forests (Table 4.3).
Table 4.3. Data on the forest fund areas and allowable cut size in individual municipalities
Municipalities
Index
Forest fund areas (1000 ha)
Allowable cut size (1000 m3)
Leningrad region
Volkhovsky district
344
700
Kirovsky district
160
250
Lodejnopolsky district
310
694
Priozersky district
272
223
Republic of Karelia
Lahdenpohsky district
173.5
306.4
Olonetsky district
357.3
245.2
Pitkarantsky district
196.1
248
Sortavalsky district
161.7
240.7
The territory of the Ladoga region (mainly its' eastern part) in general has 13% of the Leningrad region forest fund and 22% of timber stocks allowed for cutting. Forests in the Karelian part of the Lake Ladoga area are the most fragmented and disturbed by human activities since the very first stages of the assimilation of the area by people.
At present, considerable forested areas situated along river banks, shores of large lakes, Lake Ladoga shore included in the are the first class forests. In addition to forest stands in the water protection zones, a number of forests are surrounding cities and towns thus forming the settlement green zone. In Priozersky and Lodejnopolsky districts of the Leningrad region have preserved small fragments of old-growth forests. All these forests have the status of protected and high recreational value. Final cuttings are prohibited in these forests.
Forest resources in the Lake Ladoga area are of industrial, recreational and tourist value, as well as a source of non-timber products (berries, mushrooms) for the local inhabitants.
