The restoration of natural communities on anthropogenically disturbed lands is one of the world’s problems. Our studies in Kuzbass show that even after 35–40 years, areas reclaimed in different ways do not create full-fledged conditions for mammals, inhabitants of the dark coniferous taiga forests. In all studied areas, the indices of the abundance and species richness in mammalian communities are significantly inferior to the original taiga communities. The similarity with indigenous communities of mammals was found in pine plantations adjacent to self-growing deforested areas of the dark
coniferous taiga. These habitats are characterized by the highest indices of abundance and species richness among the studied sites. The most impoverished in terms of the species richness of small mammals and their number were terraced areas with a very insignificant soil layer, reclaimed by the European white birch Betula pendula Roth. and sea-buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides L. The communities of small mammals that have formed here show a faunistic similarity with the population of dry meadows on the place of the felled dark coniferous taiga, but not with the indigenous taiga population. Large and medium-sized mammals in reclaimed areas are few or absent altogether. The reclamation methods should involve the formation of forage and protective functions for forest dwellers. During reclamation, it is necessary to abandon mono-plantings. To create vital conditions, it is necessary to mosaic planting of various groups of plants with the obligatory alternation of
coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forest areas. The share of various shrubs is about 50%. Since animals are concentrated in ecotone areas, when carrying out forest reclamation, it is necessary to provide for the formation of an extended forest edge line, that is, to lay “forest glades” surrounded on all sides by woody plants and shrubs.
ISSN 1995-4301
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