Tree priority by altitude zones

Cascade	Zone	The main task	Priority trees
1	Peaks	Snow retention, wind protection	Mountain pine, cedar pines (Pinus cembra, P. koraiensis, P. sibirica), junipers, dwarf birches, rowan
2	Upper slopes	Strengthening rocky slopes, accumulating moisture	Larch, spruce, fir, mountain maple, mountain willow, birch
3	Medium wet slopes	Maximum water accumulation	Beech, fir, linden, maple, elm, ash tree, local spruce trees
4	Medium warm slopes	Biomass production, fruiting	Oak, chestnut, walnut, linden, maple, wild pear, wild apple, cherry
5	Foothills	Agroforestry	Walnut, chestnut, mulberry, quince, pear, apple, apricot, persimmon (depending on climate), ash, maple
6	Floodplains	Water purification, filtration	Alder, Iva, poplar, elm, ash tree, bird cherry, buckthorn
7	River mouths	Delta forests	White willow, black poplar, silver poplar, elm, ash, tamarisk (in dry areas)
8	Coast	Protection from wind and salt	Maritime pine, holm oak, tamarisk, juniper, carob, olive
9	Marine zone	Coastal protective plantings	Mangroves (in the tropics), salt-tolerant shrubs, tamarisk, saltwort

Priority by functions

★★★★★ Top priority

These are trees, without which it is difficult to restore the water cycle.

Ash (Fraxinus spp.)

deep roots;

rapid nutrient turnover;

high-quality leaf litter;

high biodiversity value.

Alder (Alnus spp.)

fixes atmospheric nitrogen through symbiosis withFrankish;

strengthens the banks;

improves poor soils.

Willows (Salix spp.)

quickly secure the banks;

act as natural biofilters;

the most important early honey plant.

★★★★ Very high priority

Beech

Linden

Maple

Elm

Fir

Larch

They are the ones that create the most stable forests of the temperate zone.

★★★ High priority

Oak

Walnut

Chestnut

Wild apple tree

Wild pear

Merry

Rowan

These species increase the food supply for animals and the stability of ecosystems.

★★ Medium priority

Birch

Aspen

Poplar

These are good pioneer species, but in mature forests they gradually give way to more durable species.

★ Specialized types

Used under certain conditions:

Tamarisk;

Olive;

Carob;

Acacias (native species);

Mountain pines;

Dwarf birches;

Junipers.

DREVO Strategy

Stage 1 (0–10 years)

Quick slope fixation:

willows;

alder;

birch;

aspen;

larch;

local pine trees.

Stage 2 (10–30 years)

Formation of the main forest:

ash tree;

maple;

beech;

linden;

elm;

oak;

fir.

Stage 3 (30–100 years)

Development of a mature ecosystem:

old-growth oaks;

beech woods;

linden areas;

large ash trees;

mixed coniferous-deciduous forests;

fruit trees;

natural regeneration.

The main principle of DREVO Living Mountains

Each altitude zone must combine five functional groups of trees:

🌲 Water-retaining— beech, fir, spruce, maple.

🌳 Soil improvers- alder, ash, linden.

🍎 Food- nut, chestnut, apple, pear, cherry.

🐝 Honey plants- linden, willow, maple, chestnut, acacia (local species).

🌿 Pioneer- birch, aspen, poplar, willow.

This approach allows each cascade to simultaneously retain water, restore soil fertility, support biodiversity, provide food for animals, and create long-term sustainable forest ecosystems.