On Mid-Nineteenth Century Forestation Endeavors across Steppe Areas of the Russian Empire: The Case of Kalmyk Steppe, Astrakhan Governorate

Introduction. The article deals with the issue of afforestation in Kalmyk Steppe of Astrakhan Governorate throughout the mid-eighteenth century which remains topical enough to date. The Republic of Kalmykia clusters with sparsely forested regions and is characterized by absence of natural tree and shrub structures. So, any lack of reforestation can lead to complete desertification of the territory. Therefore, re- and afforestation efforts in the region primarily seek to increase forested areas and prevent the spread of sand. The Republic participates in the federal program ‘Forest Conservation’ integral to the National Project ‘Ecology’. The region’s climate patterns result in extremely low survivability of planted trees, which requires a wide range of forestry measures, including clearing and grubbing, pit digging and seed harvesting. It is also urgent to acquire special equipment and create new jobs in the forestry sector. Goals. The paper seeks to examine the mid-eighteenth forestry efforts across Kalmyk Steppe for an insight into how the question would be solved in the pre-revolutionary period. Materials and methods. Quite a number of nineteenth-century researchers — including local officials — would emphasize the utmost importance of afforestation in Kalmyk Steppe. The article focuses on travel notes made by the academic forester I. Sankevich in the autumn of 1856 when he arrived to review forestry/gardening efforts and analyze native forests in Kalmyk-inhabited districts. The notes describe tree plantations in a number of Kalmyk uluses, outline key afforestation problems, and articulate proposals for the improvement of further activities. This forester’s narrative provides an opportunity to assemble a documented picture of forestry affairs across steppe areas of the mid-eighteenth century Russian Empire, i.e. in earliest stages of such endeavors. I. Sankevich did utter quite essential proposals on forestry management, development of foresters and watchmen’s services. In terms of methodology, our study rests on the principles of historicism and systemacity. The principle of historicism secures the insight into Kalmyk Steppe's (Astrakhan Governorate) afforestation affairs be complete enough in relation to the actual historical conditions, while that of systemity makes it possible to comprehensively examine the reforestation issue with due regard of then Russia' contexts. Results. Afforestation in Kalmyk-inhabited steppes was largely protective and associated with significant difficulties. It is crucial to investigate experiences of professionals who had made considerable forestry efforts in Kalmykia before.