Location

The Gassinski Model Forest Association is located in the Nanaiski district, in the central part of Khabarovsk Krai at the coordinates 49^o 00‘ north latitude, and 136^o 55’ east longitude. It is bordered by the Sikhote-Alin Mountains from the east, and by the left bank of the Amur River from the west. Its length from north to south is 82 km, and its width is 88 km.

The GMFA’s mailing address is: Russia, 682350, Khabarovsk krai, Nanaiski district, the town of Troitskoe, Kalinin Str. 106. Tel./Fax 7(4212)4-22-77. E-mail: forestry@trk.kht.ru.

Climate is of a monsoon type. The duration of the growing season (when the average 24hrs temperature is not less than 5 centigrade) in the valley of the Amur is 182 days, beginning on April 23, and ending on November 6. The minimum winter temperature (January) is -43 centigrade, the maximum summer temperature (July) is +33 centigrade. Annual precipitation ranges from 544 to 895 mm, of which 446-700 mm (70-85 %) falls during the growing season. The snow cover is 40-50 cm deep, it exists for 150 days. In the winter time the ground is frozen 160-190 cm deep. Prevailing winds are northwestern in winter and southeastern in summer.

Landscape combines hilly and mountainous sections (51 and 49 %, accordingly). Northern and northwestern slopes 12-15^o steep predominate in the mountainous section. Maximum altitude of the area varies between 600 and 800 m above sea level.

Vegetation cover

Manchjurian, Ussurian and Boreal forest zones meet each other in the area of GMFA. So representatives of boreal forests (larch, spruce and their attendants) can be met close to those of Ussurian and Manchjurian plants (Korean pine, linden, yew, grape, Shizandra, Aralia, actinidia, eleuterokokk, etc.)

Korean pine (cedar pine) forest stands prevail and occupy about 33 % of forested lands. Spruce-Fir forests occupy 28 %, and those of larch - 12 % of forest-covered areas. Hardwoods (birch, ash, oak) occupy 44.8 thousand hectares (15 %) and softwoods (linden, aspen) - 10 %.

Average yield per hectare is 108-243 cu.m.

Wildlife

The wildlife in the area of the GMFA is even more diversified than the world of plants. Brown bear inhabits here beside such southern species as Himalayan bear and Siberian tiger (Red Data Book animal). Also boar, red deer, other hoofed animals, and no fewer than 50 species of birds are available here. Among the game animals alone, more than 20 species of valuable fur-bearing animals inhabit this area, including sable, mink, squirrel, fox, musk rat, hare, lynx, etc. Birds are represented by hazel-hens, waterfowls, snipes (woodcock), etc.

River network and fish resources

The area of the GMFA is adjacent to the Amur River which is the great transportation artery along which communications and cargo delivery are carried out between the majority of settlements of the GMFA. Main tributaries of the Amur are: the Anyui, Pikhtsa, Tormasu, Kartanga, Khar, and Burga rivers, which also have their tributaries. The average density factor of the river network is 0.6 km of rivers and creeks per 1 km² of the area of GMFA. The rivers become iced in the late November, and free of ice in the late April. There is Lake Gassi in the western side of GMFA which water surface area is 30 km², the lake is connected with the Amur by a channel. The Anyui and Pikhtsa rivers provide spawning grounds for the autumnal Siberian salmon. The total spawning grounds of GMFA exceeds 100 hectares, and the number of spawning fish ranges from 1 to 1.6 mill. In addition, whitefish, catfish, carp, pike, grayling, lenok, taimen, and other species of fish are found in the rivers of GMFA. In addition to the above listed species, the aquatic world of Lake Gassi includes Chinese bass, and some rare species recorded in the Red Data Book, such as the leatherback tortoise.

Infrastructure

The major federal highway from Vladivostok through Khabarovsk to Komsomolsk-on-the-Amur passes along the northwestern section of the territory of the GMFA. One branch of the highway goes from Lidoga village (GMFA area) to the sea-port of Vanino. Most of the road network consists of highways and logging roads which operate year-round, their total length is 237 km. Numerous winter roads lead from these routes, their total length is about 100 km. The density factor of road networks averages 0.8 km per 1 thousand hectares in the area of GMFA. But the road network is radial with its central point in the town of Troitskoe, there are no circle roads within this radial scheme. An important part of the infrastructure of GMFA is its river network. In the navigation period, the Amur and its tributary Anyui are used as transportation arteries. Along the Anyui, power boats can reach the most remote areas of GMFA. Other tributaries of these two rivers are not navigable, except for small boats.

The federal electric power line passes through the area of GMFA.

Agriculture

Agriculture is conducted in the plain areas and in the river valleys of the GMFA. The local monsoon climate is not very favorable for growing cereals (dry spring and wet summer), the area is located in an agricultural-risk zone. However, due to the long and warm growing season, the local population manages to grow agreeable crops of potatoes, vegetables, corn, soybeans, oat, etc. Notwithstanding the winter frosts, the local orchards contain various local species of fruit trees: pear, apricots, cherry, plum. Their consumer value is not high. The fruits and berries (currants, raspberry, strawberry, grape) are mostly used for producing jams for winter consumption as a store of vitamins. Private farms breed cows, horses, pigs, goats, and poultry.

Administrative Structure

The highest administrative body of the GMFA is the Meeting of Partners. It staffs and nominates the Board of Partners, Scientific-Technical Counsel, and Executive Board of GMFA.

The Board of Partners selects and nominates the President and Vice-President of the GMFA, the Co-ordination Team, the Inspection Committee, and undertakes to supervise their activity.

The Scientific-Technical Counsel manages and co-ordinates the activity of Project Leaders.

The Co-ordination group deals with the Executive Board and records the cash-flow of the GMFA.

The Executive Board is represented by the: Executive Director, Deputy Director for science studies, Expert for wildlife monitoring, and Expert for public relations and information.

Partners and sources of funding

The GMFA has been created by 23 partners, these are the: Krai and District Administrations, indigenous communities, Krai Department for Natural Resources Use Management, Nanaiski Experimental Forestry Unit (NEFU), also science, teaching and designing institutions, and basic forest users. Financial support for the GMFA has been ensured by the Department for Natural Resources Management of the Forest Service of Canada, Department for Foreign Affairs and Overseas Trading of Canada, Federal Forest Service of Russia, Department for Forest Management of Khabarovsk krai, and the Krai Department for Natural Resources Use Management.

Logistics of the GMFA and cooperation with the Nanaiski Experimental Forestry Unit

The Executive Board of the GMFA occupies the Technical Center built by Canadian personnel using Canadian design and materials delivered from Canada from Canada’s own expenses. The Center is equipped with 6 PC-units of IBM 386, 486 and Pentium-2, scanner, and all accompanying devices. The computers are loaded with the forest inventory data base, and with the appropriate software (Arc/Info, Arc/View, Geograph, GeoDraw, etc). There is access to the Internet. The GMFA disposes of its own vehicles, as well as those of the Nanaiski EFU, which area encompasses that of GMFA and which has made an Agreement for Cooperation with the GMFA. The Agreement stipulates the pattern of partnership and mutual undertakings of the two parties.