1. Stand regeneration characteristics of dinaric Beech-Silver fir forests in Gorski kotar region
- Author
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Teslak, Krunoslav, Vedriš, Mislav, Gašparović, Marko, Čavlović, Jura, and Ivana Radojčić Redovniković, Kristina Radošević, Tamara Jakovljević Renata Stojaković, Višnja Gaurina Srček, Dina Erdec, Hendrih
- Subjects
European beech, recruitment, regeneration structure, selection forest management, silver fir - Abstract
Beech – fir forests cover about 13% of forest land in Croatia, thus being significant forest resource that is managed by uneven-aged selection management system. Continuous and successful regeneration is an essential prerequisite for selection forest management. Therefore updated and sound information on present state of regeneration is important, especially in the context of a climate change and actual structure of beech – fir forests. Field measurement has been done on 313 plots in the beech- fir forests of Gorski kotar region, Croatia. The assessment of regeneration was based on measurement of trees 0 to 10 cm dbh (species, number of trees, average height) and also estimation of seedlings up to 1, 30 m high (regenerated area in 10% classes, share of tree species, origin of stand establishment, regeneration quality ). The aim of this paper is to present and analyze current state of regeneration in Dinaric beech- fir forests of Gorski kotar region, with regard to forest ownership (management model), forest communities and habitat characteristics. Attributes like success of regeneration, structure of seedlings by species and recruitment of young trees were analyzed regarding to present and historical ownership, forest communities and aim of forest management. Results indicate poor incidence of regeneration especially of silver fir (more than 50% percent of field plots with no regeneration). Fir saplings and young trees (>1.3 m height, ≤10 cm dbh) are registered on 9% of plots, average number being only 165 per ha (all species 2044 per ha). Estimated average share of regenerated area is 16, 3 % of total forest area, contributed by 5, 2 % of conifers and 3, 8 % fir. Total 14 tree species were recorded on regenerated areas, clearly dominated by broadleaves, especially beech (over 50 %). Significant differences in regeneration attributes were proven by ANOVA between current and historical ownership categories, forest communities and habitat characteristics. In order to get better insight on structure of regeneration, it is recommended to improve future assessment by establishing special sub-plots for measurement of seedlings by species.
- Published
- 2016