Genko's Forest Belt, Protected forest belt in Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia.
Genko's Forest Belt is a protected woodland system in Ulyanovsk Oblast that contains oak, maple, pine, birch, linden, and elm trees distributed throughout the area. The forest functions as a connected green barrier designed to shield the land from wind while housing trees of different ages.
The forest belt was established between 1886 and 1903 by Nestor Karlovich Genko to protect water catchment areas in the Ulyanovsk region. The project aimed to preserve the landscape from erosion and severe wind exposure.
The forest belt represents a significant example of 19th-century Russian forestry practices and environmental management techniques that influenced agricultural development.
The area is protected from development and agricultural use to preserve its natural function. Visitors can explore the woodland while only specific maintenance tasks such as removing dead trees are permitted.
The woodland demonstrates natural regeneration with multiple generations of trees that continue the windbreak's original purpose. This self-sustaining structure shows how a design from the 19th century still performs its protective function today.
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