Press centre

Over the last five years the forest restoration area in Primorsky Krai exceeded the deforested and the dead forest area by 265%. In 2023, over 1.8 mln seedlings were planted in nursery forests. The greater part of them — in a massive greenhouse constructed by the Nakhodka Mineral Fertilizer Plant (NFP) together with the ministry of forestry and wildlife conservation of Primorsky Krai on the outskirts of Partizansk. Construction of the large complex is one of the NFP environmental priorities in the region.

The greenhouse grows ball-rooted seedlings, which allows for extended planting. The nursery forest square area is 3,000 sq.m. with a designed capacity of 200,000 seedlings. It is equipped with an automated sprinkling system, independent power supply, ventilation and a water well. The first larch and cedar seedlings will be transplanted in the forests across Primorye this spring already.

According to the ministry of forestry, environment, wildlife and mineral resource conservation of Primorsky Krai, this year alone the forest restoration area exceeded the deforested and the dead forest area by 48% as part of the regional “Forest Conservation” project which falls under the ‘Environment’ national project. In absolute terms, this makes 12,000 ha of restored forests.

“The first batch of seedlings from the greenhouse, which was commissioned in Partizansk last year, is getting adapted to the open air. In spring, some of them will be planted in the regeneration areas, others will stay in the nursery to get off the ground. Local seedlings take roots better and they do it quicker if sprouted in the greenhouse,” said Anatoly Nepochatykh, deputy minister of forestry, environment, wildlife and mineral resource conservation of Primorsky Krai.

The nursery forest team hope that they will soon be able to shift to local saplings completely.