Structural properties of pure and mixed bosnian pine stands on Mt. Zeletin

The subject of this research are stands of bosnian pine in the area of the mountain massif Visitor with Zeletin in Montenegro. Considering the fact that these forests are unexplored, due to their small area and the absence of economic interest (the strictest protection regime), the research task of this paper is to conduct an adequate research of one of the most preserved white-bark pine populations in this areas in structural and partly production terms. The bosnian pine stands on Mt. Zeletin belong to two management units: FMU “Piševska Reka - Zeletin” and FMU “Kutska Reka” which occupy an area of 160 ha. The research included the accessible parts of sections 2/b, 3/a, 5/a, 28/a and 28/s, in which 8 sample plots (SP) of an 30 ar area each were established (4 SP in pure and 4 SP in mixed stands). The SPs are vertically distributed between 1,550 and 1,850 m a.s.l. In pure stands, the average number of trees (for 4 SPs) is 723 pcs∙ha-1, the basal area is 74 m2∙ha-1, and the volume is 529 m3∙ha-1, which are considered high values given the conditions in which these stands have developed. In mixed stands, the numerical elements show significantly higher values: the number of trees is 875 pcs∙ha-1, the basal area is 87 m2∙ha-1 and the volume is 721 m3∙ha-1. A high degree of correlation was found between the values of volumes (unweighted and weighted) and the values of dominant heights. The mixed stands reveal a more heterogeneous structural development. Bosnian pine trees cluster at short distances, which is probably the result of a struggle for survival in highly unfavorable conditions. As these stands are subjected to spontaneous development over a long period of time, their research provides the opportunity to get to know more about bosnian pine ecology. Considering its modest requirements towards habitat conditions, bosnian pine has considerable advantages when choosing a species for afforestation of the most unfavorable sites.