TAXUS BACCATA L. IN THE MIDDLE MOUNTAINSOF THE TEREK CAUCASUS (CHECHNYA)

The article describes the current state of the Taxus baccata L. population in the midmountain landscapes (Wooded Range) of the Chechen Republic (Terek Caucasus) in the area between the Gekhi and Roshnya rivers.Regional populations of this species according to the standard of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) belong to the category of rarity "Endangered".We previously published a note about an unknown population of this species in the study area, but the authors provide a detailed description of these forest communities for the first time.The composition and structure of plant communities with the participation of T. baccata were studied, and data on the ecological and phytocenotic characteristics of its populations were obtained.The tract contains 20 species of trees and shrubs and more than 30 species of herbaceous plants.The first locus is small in number and is located under the dense canopy of Fagus orientalis Lipsky, Carpinus betulus L. and Tilia caucasica Rupr.The age structure of T. baccata cenopopulations is characterized as normal, complete, average dynamic with a predominance of immature individuals that gravitate to the periphery of the locus.The second locus of T. baccata is a more numerous and larger population in the forest edge.Here, the "edge" forms of T. baccata look prosperous, their vital condition is high.Despite the apparent well-being, in general, the state of the studied communities due to increased anthropogenic pressure (including the active development of the tourism cluster) is assessed as threatened.In order to preserve the population, it is necessary: constant monitoring of the state of the studied population, protection of the habitat, prohibition of forestry activities on the site and adjacent plots, and the territory itself is subject to conservation and the organization of a natural reserve on its basis.