Ecosystem Services and Ecological State of Postpyrogenic Soils in Urban Forest Environments

Forest fires are among the most significant types of disturbances on a global scale, affecting biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles with an essential contribution to global atmospheric chemistry. Direct damage from forest fires is estimated in billions of rubles annually; however, it can be even higher if indirect losses of environmental and natural values of forests and soils are considered. A novel approach is proposed to assess the ecosystem services of postpyrogenic soils in urban forests of Tolyatti city. A complex indicator to assess the ecological soils state (Pe) was used as a quantitative evaluation parameter. It can both serve as an indicator of the degradation of a separate soil property and be used in the economic assessment of individual environmental services of urban forests. Devaluation of ecosystem services by forest ecosystems and soils in result of wildfires shall be transformed into a cost valuation in future. The cost of ecosystem services restoration provided by the soil is very high and determines the need for maximum conservation of the soil cover in the implementation of economic activities. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.