Distribution and analysis of the state of secondary spruce stands in the Ukrainian Carpathians
The negative synergistic impact of climate change and the increase of anthropogenic pressures on the state, structure and functioning of secondary spruce stands in the Ukrainian Carpathians have been established. A retrospective analysis of the functioning of these forest ecosystems showed that the...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ukrainian National Forestry University
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Наукові праці Лісівничої академії наук України |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://fasu.nltu.edu.ua/index.php/nplanu/article/view/295/219 |
| Summary: | The negative synergistic impact of climate change and the increase of anthropogenic pressures on the state, structure and functioning of secondary spruce stands in the Ukrainian Carpathians have been established. A retrospective analysis of the functioning of these forest ecosystems showed that the expected economic effect of creating pure spruce stands did not justify itself and led to large-scale drying and dying of spruce plantations.
The performed analysis of the state and dynamics of secondary spruce stands of the Ukrainian Carpathians showed the critical situation of these forest ecosystems and their negative impact on the economic condition of the forestry enterprises of the region. The total area of secondary spruce stands on the territory of the Ukrainian Carpathians is 126678.1 hectares with a total growing stock of 43032.5 thousand m3. Secondary spruce stands occupy the largest area on the territory of Ivano-Frankivsk region ‒ 60514.8 ha (47.8% of the total area of secondary spruce stands) and the smallest ‒ in Chernivtsi region - 13155,1 ha (10.4%). The average growing stock of secondary spruce trees is 340 m3/ha. According to the distribution of secondary spruce stands in the age groups it is as follows: 32.9% of the growing stock is formed by the mature plantations, 27.5% ‒ by the premature forest stands, 21.4% ‒ by the middle aged, 16.8% ‒ by the over mature and only 1.4% of the growing stock form young stands. In general, the average age of secondary spruce stands of the Ukrainian Carpathians is 56 years.
Among the forest types, secondary spruce stands in the Ukrainian Carpathians most often occur in the wet beech-spruce-silver fir forests on relative rich soils, where their area is 47537.3 ha (37.5% of the total area of secondary spruce stands). A significant number of secondary spruce stands were formed also in the wet beech-spruce-silver fir forests on rich soils ‒ 17761.2 ha (14.0%). Secondary spruce stands have the high productivity ‒ the largest area is occupied by the first site class of forest stands ‒ 89631 ha (70.8% of the total area). In the study region dominate secondary spruce stands with the high stand density (0.8-1.0), the area of which is 67302.2 ha (53.1%). The stands with the middle stand density (0.6-0.7) cover an area of 45160.7 ha (35.7%), and the stands with the small stand density (0.4-0.5) ‒12646.0 ha (10.0%). Secondary spruce stands with the stand density up to 0.3 are 1520.5 hectares (1.2%), and more than 1.0 ‒ only 48.7 hectares (0.04%).
It is established that in order to solve the problem of drying up of spruce plantations, it is necessary to monitor forest ecosystems and integrate into the forest management practices the principles of close-to-nature silviculture. In particular, to increase the biotic stability, sustainability and biodiversity of secondary spruce stand, it is necessary to apply more extensive conversion cuttings. Based on the reports of the regional forestry and hunting administrations in the Ukrainian Carpathian region, it is found that state forestry enterprises are still under-utilizing the conversion cuttings. Therefore, the issue of localization and prevention of secondary spruce stands still remains relevant. |
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| ISSN: | 1991-606X 2616-5015 |