ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF NORWAY SPRUCE STANDS AFFECTED BY DRYING FROM OUTSIDE THE NATURAL RANGE.

The forest plantations (Norway spruce, pine) installed outside the habitat are fragile, vulnerable ecosystems, exposed to some risk factors, registering significant damages. In the paper, the analysis of the environmental conditions of some lands with Norway spruce stands outside the habitat, affected by intense drying, and the substantiation of their ecological restoration solutions are presented. The results were obtained based on research carried out in 2023 in the area of the Suceava Plateau (Marginea Forest District). The physicochemical characteristics of the soils were strongly altered, having a low content of nutrients and minerals, with a contrasting texture, being poor in bases and heavy drainage, strong acidity, and affected by pseudo-glazing processes. The ecological restoration of Norway spruce stands affected by drying consists of replacing them with species corresponding to the environmental conditions, but only after carrying out special land and soil preparation works to improve its physical and chemical properties. The results obtained are particularly important considering the need for ecological restoration of large areas with Norway spruce stands outside the habitat, strongly affected by drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]