In autumn 2013 a survey was undertaken on the part of sample area 2 which is undestroyed.
The purpose was to monitor the state of cenopopulations of rare vascular plant species.
A total of 7 cenopopulations of 6 rare vascular plants were studied, namely: Paeonia caucasica, Epimedium colchicum, Daphne albowiana, Lilium kesselringianum, Colchicum speciosum and Crocus valicola. In addition, invasive and weed species were also studied on the sample areas.

Sample area # 1

The sample area of 50 sq m was set up on the south-east slope, subalpine midgrass meadow, Pikhtovaya polyana. The soil is brown alpine meadow soil. The monitoring covered 4 rare vascular plant species: Daphne albowiana, Lilium kesselringianum, Colchicum speciosum and Crocus valicola. The sample area was destroyed in 2012.

Sample area # 2

The sample area of 100 sq m was set up in the beech forest by the foot of the Psehako ridge, its south-east slope. The soil is brown forest soil. Two rare vascular plant species are monitored: Epimedium colchicum and Colchicum speciosum.
In the spring-summer 2013 a total of 54 plants of Epimedium colchicum were recorded on this sample area. When this area was inspected in autumn 2013, half of the ground cover was found to have been removed by bulldoze, and this species can go extinct, since bank protection structures continue to be built.
A total of 71 Colchicum speciosum plants were recorded on the sample area in the spring-summer 2013, of them 26 were fruit bearing. Also detected were species not occurring in the previous years, namely Geranium robertianum, Lapsana communis and Solidago virgaurea.
During the survey in autumn 2013 half of the ground cover with Colchicum speciosum growing was found to be removed by bulldoze. So this species can also go extinct, since bank protection structures continue to be built.

Sample area # 3

Area # 3 (100 sq m) was set up in the hornbeam-beech forest, on the south slope of the Psehako ridge. Among the tree species the prevalent are oriental beech and common hornbeam, with wild cherry as a subdominant species. The soil is firm, brown forest soil. The monitoring object is Paeonia caucasica - an endemic rare species included in the Red Books of Russia and Kransodar kray. This plot was destroyed in 2012.

In the area of JSC Gazprom ski complex (the Psehako ridge) the three sample areas set up before were surveyed in the first half of 2013.

Sample area # 1

The sample area of 50 sq m was set up on the south-east slope, subalpine midgrass meadow, Pikhtovaya polyana. The monitoring covered 4 rare vascular plant species: Daphne albowiana, Lilium kesselringianum, beautiful meadow saffron and Crocus valicola. The sample was destroyed in 2012.

Sample area # 2

The sample area of 100 sq m was set up in the beech forest by the foot of the Psehako south-east slope. Two rare vascular plant species are monitored: Epimedium colchicum and Colchicum speciosum.

Epimedium colchicum is endemic Colchis, forest mesophylic species. Included in the Red Books of the former USSR, Russia and Krasnodar kray. A total of 54 plants were recorded in the spring-summer 2013.

Colchicum speciosum - In the spring-summer 2013 a total of 71 plants were recorded, of them 26 were fruit bearing.

The identified species that did not occur here before are Geranium robertianum, Lapsana communis and Solidago virgaurea.

Sample area # 3 was destroyed in 2012.

In the autumn 2012 survey of the monitoring areas was organized. The monitoring covered the populations of 6 rare species of vascular plants: Paeonia caucasica, Epimedium colchicum, Daphne albowiana, Lilium kesselringianum, Colchicum speciosum, Crocus valicola.

Sample area # 1 on Pikhtovaya Polyana (subalpine midgrass meadow)

Rare plant species have been monitored since 2007. Until 2010 the state of the plants was normal. In 2010 the plot was cleared for a camping site and an alternate area was chosen. In June 2012 the alternate area on Pikhtovaya Polyana was eliminated together with rare plants (the fertile soil layer removed by bulldoze). On this part of the area the earth road was expanded and cleared from herbaceous shrub vegetation.

Sample area # 2 (100 sq m) in beech forest near the Psehako foot

Two rare vascular plant species have been monitored since 2007: Epimedium colchicum and Colchicum speciosum. In the spring 2012 a total of 55 plants of Epimedium colchicum were recorded, of them 18 were fruit-bearing. The population, as compared to the last year, has not changed. In the autumn 2012 a total of 63 flowering plants were recorded. In this stage the species state can be considered as satisfactory.

Sample area # 3 (100 кв.м) in hornbeam beech forest on the south slope of Psehako

The monitoring object was Paeonia caucasica (Schipcz.) Schipcz.- an endemic rare species. Included in the Red Books of Russia and Kransodar kray. The state of Paeonia caucasica was normal during monitoring in 2007 to 2011. The 2012 monitoring showed that the monitored area had been destroyed (covered with rubble) as the road was expanded toward the Psehako ridge and storm water drainage was organized

Thus, of the three monitoring areas of rare plant species in the vicinity of the Psehako ski complex, two areas were destroyed during the construction activity and the rare plants growing on the monitored areas died out, see the photo .

Photo 1. On the subalpine area where Lilium kesselringianum used to grow a trailer is placed.

Photo 2. Earth dump on monitoring area # 3 on which Paeonia caucasica used to grow

In the vicinity of the JSC “Gazprom” ski complex (Psehako) three sample areas were surveyed in autumn 2011.

Area #1 (50 sq m) was set up on the south-east slope, subalpine midgrass meadow, Pikhtovaya polyana. Monitoring has been conducted since 2007 and covered 4 rare vascular plant species: Daphne albowiana Lilium kesselringianum, beautiful meadow saffron and Crocus valicola.

Daphne albowiana (Daphne albowiana) - albowiana is a rare Mediterranean Colchis plant species, endemic. Included in the Red Book of Kransodar kray. Lilium kesselringianum is a relict endemic Colchis species of limited population. Included in the Red Books of the former USSR, Russia and Kransodar kray. Crocus valicola is a mountain meadow rare Colchis plant species. Included in the Red Books of Russia and Kransodar kray.

During the 2011 autumn monitoring Daphne albowiana plants, when examined visually, were in a satisfactory state. In all three plants, like in 2010, berries were abundant. In this stage, the state of this species is assessed as satisfactory.

Of herbaceous plants recorded were Heracleum aconitifolium, Aconitum orientale, Telekia speciosa, Rumex alpinus, Lapsana intermedia,Cephalaria gigantean. Abundant were Trifolium ambiguum, Catum caucasicum and Euphrasia ossica. The species which was not identified earlier was Nardus stricta.

Area # 2 (100 sq m) was set up in beech forest by the foot of the south-east slope of Psehako. Two rare vascular plant species have been monitored since 2007: Epimedium colchicum and Colchicum speciosum.

Epimedium colchicum – is endemic Colchis, forest, mesophylic species. Included in the Red Books of the former USSR, Russia and Kransodar kray. In the spring 2011 a total of 50 plants were recorded on the sample area.

Colchicum speciosum - Included in the Red Books of Russia and Kransodar kray. In the spring 2011 a total of 55 plants were recorded on the sample area.

Other species identified on the sample area include Plantago lanceolata, Symphytum grandiflorum and Carex pendula, which was not recorded earlier.

During the survey in the autumn 2011 a total of 53 flowing plants were recorded. In the herbaceous layer Salvia glutinosa, Euphorbia helioscopia, Oxalis corniculata, Cicerbita prenanthoides, Plantago anceolata, Geranium silvaticum were identified. For Colchicum speciosum negative effects, such as plant gathering or trampling, did not allow full development of this cenopopulation. Fertilization and plant ovaries should be monitored in spring.

At this stage, the state of herbaceous species in the vicinity of the “Gazprom” ski complex can be considered to be satisfactory.

The state of rare plant species on area #2 is satisfactory, but weed plants start to grow.

Area # 3 (100 sq m) was set up in the hornbeam-beech forest, on the south slope of the Psehako. The monitoring object was Paeonia caucasica - an endemic rare species included in the Red Books of Russia and Kransodar kray. The state of Paeonia caucasica on the sample area is satisfactory, but weed plant start to grow.

Thus the data by the end of by the 2011 show that the territory of Gazprom ski complex is experiencing a growing anthropogenic stress: sample area #1 has practically been destroyed. On areas 2 and 3 there are more and more weeds with every year, which suggests continuing synanthropization of the Psehako ecosystems.

Monitoring of rare vascular plant species needs to be conducted for a long time to identify trends in development of the monitored cenopopulations.

In the vicinity f the JSC “Gazprom” ski complex (Psehako) three sample areas were surveyed in autumn 2010.

Area #1 (50 sq m) was set up on the south-east slope, subalpine midgrass meadow, Pikhtovaya polyana. Monitoring has been conducted since 2007 and covered 4 rare vascular plant species: Daphne albowiana Lilium kesselringianum, beautiful meadow saffron and Crocus valicola.

Daphne albowiana is a rare Mediterranean Colchis plant species, endemic. Included in the Red Book of Kransodar kray. Lilium kesselringianum is a relict endemic Colchis species of limited population. Included in the Red Books of the former USSR, Russia and Kransodar kray. Crocus valicola is a mountain meadow rare Colchis plant species. Included in the Red Books of Russia and Kransodar kray.

In the beginning of the summer 2010 the monitoring subalpine area was destroyed by tourists: meadow vegetation and rare plants were mowed off, a camping site was set up instead

In the second half of 2012 a new control area was established on which a group of four small shrubs Daphne albowiana are monitored, At this point the state of the species is considered to be unsatisfactory, the population has been reduced by half as a result of human direct interference

Area # 2 (100 sq m) was set up in beech forest by the foot of the south-east slope of Psehako. The monitoring have been conducted since 2007and covered two rare species : Epimedium colchicum and Colchicum speciosum. Epimedium colchicum is endemic Colchis, forest, mesophylic species. Included in the Red Books of the former USSR, Russia and Kransodar kray. The state of the rare species on the sample area is satisfactory, however, weeds are on the increase.

Area # 3 (100 sq m) was set up in the hornbeam-beech forest, on the south slospe of Psehako. The monitoring object was Paeonia caucasica - an endemic rare species. Included in the Red Books of Russia and Kransodar kray. The state of Paeonia caucasica on the sample area is satisfactory, but weed plants start to grow.

Thus based on the data by the end of by the 2010 the territory of “Gazprom” ski complex is experiencing a growing anthropogenic stress : Lilium kesselringianum and Crocus valicola cannot be monitored any longer. Area #1 has practically been destroyed. On areas 2 and 3 there are more and more weeds with every year, which suggests continuing synanthropization of the Psehako ecosystems.

Monitoring of rare vascular plant species should be conducted for long term to identify trends in development of the monitored cenopopulations.