Belarus takes part in SCO's Traditional Medicine Forum in China's Nanchang

Mass collection of cones has begun in the Vitebsk region, with forest workers planning to collect about 50 tons of harvest in all forestry enterprises of the northern region, as reported by the Vitebsk State Production Forestry Association (GPPLHO).

"The collection of cones has just begun, and it is difficult to make forecasts for the exact tonnage of this natural material, but we plan to procure about 50 tons of spruce and pine cones. From these, we expect to procure about 10 tons of cones from seed stands, from which we will obtain seeds with improved hereditary properties. The yield this year is slightly below average due to unfavorable weather conditions that occurred this spring and summer," noted Alexey Kitashov, lead engineer for forest restoration and reclamation of Vitebsk GPPLHO.

BELTA correspondents visited the Beshenkovichi forestry enterprise at one of the plantations where elite pine seeds are being collected. "Five people are involved in the collection of cones. The harvesting goes on throughout the daylight hours. Forest workers collect each cone by hand. From this plantation, we plan to collect about 2 tons of selected cones, which will then be sent to the Glubokskoye Experimental Forestry Enterprise. They have the necessary equipment for drying cones, de-winging seeds, and subsequently storing the seed material in refrigerators," said Irina Bogach, engineer for forest restoration and reclamation of the Beshenkovichi forestry enterprise.

Irina Bogach, engineer for forest restoration and reclamation of the Beshenkovichi forestry enterprise, and Elena Shestova, forester

She added that the collection of cones is also underway in economic seed stands in the forestries, and approximately the same harvest is planned to be collected in the wild.

As for spruce cones, 1.5 tons are planned to be collected in the Beshenkovichi forestry enterprise.

"Coniferous harvest" in the forestry enterprises of the northern region will continue until March.