The object of study area lies in the center part of the East European Plain, at the junction of the Oka-Don Lowland and Upland. Administratively it corresponds to the Lipetsk region. The subject of the study was the low level of afforestation in the region. Studies showed that the greatest reduction in forest area occured in 17-18 centuries. In the second half of the 19th century reforestation begun. The restoration of forests required professionals with comprehensive knowledge about forests. The region organized schools to train forestry experts. The aim was to preserve and enhance forest resources, to ensure the rational use of forests. Since the natural regeneration of forests in the conditions of intensive agriculture was impossible. In the second half of the 20th century was the accumulation of sufficient knowledge to understand how and why it is necessary to plant forests. At the time of the organization of the Lipetsk region in 1954, the forest area was 145,700 hectares. Currently, the total forest area in the Lipetsk region is 180.5 thousand hectares. Wooded area of Lipetsk region covers 7.2% of the total area, which is 2410 thousand hectares. The region has also 43.8 thousand. hectares of protective forest stands on agricultural lands.

Wild natural landscapes in the region consist of oak, pine, alder, birch, aspen, poplar, willow forests. The main tree species of the area are oak - 40%, pine - 37%, birch - 9%, aspen - 5%, black alder - 6%. Other species occupy much smaller area: the share of stands of ash falls is 0.4%, maple - 0.3%. All forests are for water protection and recreation. Forest areas where felling is completely banned amounts to 176.3 thousand hectares or 89% of the total forest area. Forests of green zones of settlements and economic facilities occupy 21.1 thousand hectares. The age structure of forests is very uneven. Middle-aged forests are 60%; ripe and ripening - 8%; the young - 32%. The territory is characterized by uneven arrangement of forests.

According to December 20, 1961 Resolution of the Russian Council of Ministers №1500 «About creation of the state of protective forest belts in the Lipetsk region" the creation of protective forest belts along the local roads begun. Within four years, roadside forest belts were completed. Through the efforts of foresters during this period there was created 1870 hectares of forest strips with the length of 397 kilometers. At the present time they fully carry out their diverse functions, they are the adornment of the fields, a reliable barrier roads from snowdrifts. And in this short message, I can not but raise the topic of moral and ethical qualities of humans. Foresters have a truly planetary thinking, putting forest ecosystems well-being above their own safety. In 2010, due to abnormally hot weather, accompanied by strong winds, 369 forest fires have been registered in the region. The area covered by the fire was more than 9000 hectares. Foresters, saving forests, fought the fire, along with firefighters. They did not go away, even when receiving the news about the threat to their families and fires, destroying their homes. They were saving the forest. Houses were rebuilt after fires, and forest rangers were to reside with their families in the woods. They continue to work on the conservation and enhancement of forest resources.

The current state of forests reflects the human impact on the territory of the region and at the same time is a consequence of the natural development of ecosystems.

2.The Forestry Department of the Lipetsk region. URL: http://www.leslipetsk.ru/indexdoc.html (reference date 30/09/2016)