Strip Pine Forests

grassy and grassy-shrub pine forests extending in strips (5-40 km) along rivers on sandy ancient alluvial deposits. They are found in the southern part of Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan; they also occupy large areas along the Ob’, Irtysh, and Tobol rivers and tributaries of the Tobol. In the northern regions, strip pine forests consist mainly of reed grass or of reed grass and low bush associations. The southern pine forests suffer from severe steppe encroachment.

Strip pine forests have great importance in protecting soils and preventing adjacent regions from experiencing unfavorable climatic influences. Strip pine forests along the Tobol and its tributaries have suffered extensive cutting and have been classified as valuable forests.