XVI International Botanical Congess

Results of study of structure, productivity and vitality state of pine stands in the Kola Peninsula are discussed. Stationary observations were made during 15 years in background stands and in the region of air emission of copper-nickel industry. lt was detected, that pine stands near northern limit of forests are of low site with low density of canopy equal to 0,3-0,6 and with small productivity (wood stock varies from 40 to 100 m3 per ha). Annual wood increment compiles 0,2-1,5 m3 per ha. Under prolonged air pollution (SO2 and heavy metals) the following peculiarities are detected: drop of life duration and needle mass, decreasing of linear and radial increments and even weakening of trees with various vitality state, deletion of annual ring with abrupt fall of radial increment, interruption of apical growth due to damage of terminal buds, early ageing and tree crown deformation, change of current wood stock due to tree withering. All these peculiarities impact negatively on structure, productivity and state of pine forests as a whole.