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This article analyzes the data on the composition of forests, species of animals and birds in the Valdai district of Novgorod province, available in the notes to the General Economic surveying conducted by Catherine II. The study database containing information about the natural environment of the Valdai district in the second half of the XVIII century was created, the state of forests, composition of species and the number of mammals and birds was assessed as well. The author concludes that the surveyors inscribed the notes about specific trees, animals and birds on the basis of their relevance to population and greater prevalence of a particular area in the economic records. Over the past centuries on the territory of the Valdai there was a steady tendency of spreading spruce-deciduous and pine forests with a large number of birches, replacing the primary spruce forests as a result of the economic development of the territory. As referred to Economic notes specific composition of trees, mammals and birds has in general survived to our time. At the same time, a sharp reduction in the number of hunting birds on the territory of the Valdai as well as the spreading of animals previously unknown in this territory, including specially imported for breeding or expanding an area of their habitat is observed. |
