The current state and biodiversity of steppe phytocenoses in the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

In connection with the importance of preserving and restoring steppe landscapes, the purpose of the study was to monitor the state and biodiversity of steppe phytocenoses in the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Geobotanical survey was carried out in the steppe and foothill zones of the republic in 2018-2020. According to the monitoring results, it was found that an increase in pasture digression correlates with a depletion of the floristic composition, a decrease in the projective cover, the height of the herbage and the productivity of aboveground phytomass, an increase in the level of synanthropization and a simplification of the vertical structure. With an increase in anthropogenic influence in plant communities, the level of synanthropization increases to 78.6%. The decrease in the projective cover in 1.5-3.3 is a consequence of the long and irrational use of pastures. As a result of intensive grazing, the productivity of the aboveground phytomass decreases by 9-12 times, and the height of the grass stand - by 2.5-5.0 times compared to the reference steppe phytocenoses. To preserve steppe phytocenoses, a set of measures is needed, including the ecologization of agriculture, the development of measures for the ecological restoration of disturbed steppe ecotopes, the prevention of negative phenomena of invasion, the creation of nurseries of steppe flora and steppe reserves, the inclusion of species that are in danger of complete extinction in the Red Book of the flora of Kabardino-Balkaria.