Kakovost in vrednost macesna (Larix decidua Mill.) v Karavankah

Although European larch is a commercially important tree species in the Alps, this study is among the first focusing on the quality and value of larch trees. Data from permanent sample plots of the Slovenia Forest Service (802 plots1851 trees) was used to model the quality and value of standing larch trees. The share of excellent and very good quality timber amounted to 49%, but the share of veneer logs and sawlogs I was only 11.7%. The quality and value of larch trees were positively influenced by the diameter at breast height and stand basal area, and negatively by altitude and harvesting intensity. In addition, timber value was higher in stands in regeneration and uneven-aged stands and in stands with a low share of spruce or high share of deciduous tree species. Trees from higher social layers and undamaged trees also proved to have more valuable timber. The quality of larch trees was lower on extreme beech and pine forest types.Čeprav je evropski macesen v Alpah ekonomsko pomembna drevesna vrsta, je ta študija med prvimi, ki obravnava kakovost in vrednost macesnovih dreves. Za modeliranje kakovosti in vrednost macesnovih dreves smo uporabili podatke s stalnih vzorčnih ploskev Zavoda za gozdove Slovenije (802 ploskev1851 dreves). Delež dreves odlične in zelo dobre kakovosti je znašala 49 %, delež furnirja in žagovcev I pa 11,7 %. Pokazalo se je, da na kakovost in vrednost macesnovih dreves pozitivno vplivata prsni premer drevesa in temeljnica sestoja, negativno pa nadmorska višina in intenzivnost sečenj. Vrednost je večja tudi v sestojih v obnovi in raznomernih sestojih ter pri nižjem deležu smreke oziroma višjem deležu bukve. Prav tako imajo višjo vrednost drevesa, ki pripadajo zgornji plasti in so nepoškodovana. Kakovost macesna je slabša na skrajnejših bukovih in borovih rastiščih

Treatment of forest stands in the forest planning on the case of Bohinj and Pohorje forest areas

V raziskavi smo analizirali značilnosti izločanja in obravnavanja sestojev v gozdnogospodarskem načrtovanju na primeru objektov Bohinj (GGO Bled) in Pohorje (GGO Maribor) s skupno površino 29950ha gozdov. Analizo negovalnih enot ter primerjavo negovalnih enot in sestojev smo opravili na sistematično izbranem vzorcu devetindvajsetih oddelkov (9 % površine gozdov) v objektu Bohinj in petindvajsetih oddelkov (10 % površine gozdov) na Pohorju. Povprečna površina izločenih sestojev v Bohinju znaša 1,04 ha (Me = 0,53 ha), na Pohorju pa 2,30 ha (Me= 1,33 ha). Povprečna površina negovalnih enot je 2,00 ha (Me = 0,95 ha) v Bohinju in 1,88 ha (Me = 0,92 ha) na Pohorju. Na velikost izločenih sestojev predvsem značilno vplivajo struktura gozdnih sestojev, popisovalec, rastiščne razmere, gospodarjenje z gozdovi ter tradicija gozdarskega načrtovanja v posameznem območju.The research focused on the mapping, classifying and dealing with forest stands in forest management planning. Stands were analysed in the forest areasof Bohinj (Forest management region Bled) and Pohorje (FMR Maribor) with a total area of 29,95 0 hectares. Analyses of silvicultural units were carried out on a systematically selected sample, amounting to 9 % and 10 % of forest area at the Bohinj and Pohorje sites, respectively. The average area of delineated stands at the Bohinj site was 1.04 ha (Me = 0.5 3 ha) and 2.30 ha (Me = 1.33 ha) in the Pohorje site. The average area of silvicultural units is 2.00 ha (Me = 0.95 ha) at Bohinj and 1.88 ha (Me = 0.92 ha) at Pohorje sites. The size of stands depends mostly on stand structure, surveyor, site conditions, forest management practices and tradition

Quality and Timber Value of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Trees in the Karavanke Region

The paper studies the quality of beech trees in the Karavanke mountain range. The data obtained for this study came from the permanent sample plots (here in after PSPs) of the studied area. The timber assortment structure of mature beech trees in stands was calculated on the basis of the estimated quality of a total of 7,154 beech trees from 2,088 plots and a small sample of harvested trees. The established timber assortment structure and the prices of timber ex forest road were then used to determine the value of beech wood. The study showed that the assortment structure was extremely unfavorable, with the share of trees with sliced and peeled veneer quality lower than 1%, and the share of sawlogs totaling 1.6% of the net volume of analyzed trees. The quality is highest in beech trees measuring 50–55 cm in diameter at breast height. Quality values were higher in rejuvenation stands, and in stands with a comparatively high share of fir or a low share of conifers (spruce). The value drops with altitude and inclination and is higher on slope sites. Undamaged trees from higher social layers are also more valuable. Furthermore, beech timber value is positively affected by high harvesting intensity. In dense stands with a basal area exceeding 60–65 m2/ha, the value begins to decline. In order to improve the quality structure of beech stands, beech would have to be grown in beech-dominated clusters or stands, and thinned at the correct time. Particular attention needs to be paid to minimize the damage to dominant trees during harvesting. Quality assessment carried out within the forest inventory enables to assess the stand quality and value potential of forests at different spatial scale. The research has highlighted several possibilities to use quality data in connection with other parameters to enhance the efficiency of forest management

Management of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Slovenia

V prispevku analiziramo strukturo in razvojne značilnosti sestojev z jelko, gospodarjenje in posek jelke po stirih rastiščnih skupinah (A-D) glede na gojitveno ekološke značilnosti jelke na podlagi podatkovnih zbirk Zavoda za gozdove Slovenije. V lesni zalogi jelke prevladuje srednje debelo (d=30-49 cm)in debelo drevje (d=50 cm in veè) (84,9 %). Najveè (45 %) debelih jelk je vdinarskih jelovjih in jelovih bukovjih (skupina B), razvojno najmlajsa je jelka v jelovjih s praprotmi in na drugih jelovih rastiščih na nekarbonatu (skupina C). Analiza debelinske strukture jelke in stevila dreves iz prve in druge izmere na stalnih vzorčnih ploskvah ter naraščanje povprečnega premera posekanih jelk v obdobju zadnjih 14 let nakazujejo staranje in regresijo jelke, ki sta izrazitejša v skupini B. Vraščanje jelke prek meritvenega praga je največje v skupini C (19,2/ha/10 let) in se statistično značilno razlikuje od drugih skupin. Najmanjšo vrast jelke ugotavljamo v skupini B (4,2/ha/10 let), jakost poseka jelke je tu najvišja (22,3 % LZ) z najvišjim povprečnim premerom posekanih jelk (42,5 cm) in 48 % sanitarne sečnje. Za aktivno ohranjanje jelke je pomembno predvsem zmanjšanje vpliva jelenjadi in skrbno ter diferencirano gojitveno ukrepanje z daljšimi parcialnimi pomladitvenimi dobami. Predlagamo tudi nekatere druge ukrepe.In the paper, we analysed the structure and developmental characteristics of forest stands with silver fir in Slovenia, the management and cut in four forest site strata, where silver fir occurs. We used databases from the Slovenia Forest Service. In growing stock (GS) of silver fir, large (dbh=30-49cm) and very large (d=50 cm and more) diameter trees account for 84.9 % at the national level. The highest share of very large diameter silver fir trees (45 %) is in Dinaric silver fir forests and silver fir-beech forests(B), the lowest in silver fir forests with fern and silver fir forests on non-carbonate ground (C). The dbh structure of GS, number of silver fir trees recorded from two subsequent measurements from permanent sampling plots,rising mean dbh of harvested silver fir trees all indicate general agingand regression of silver, which is typical of stratum B but not in all other strata. The ingrowth of silver fir in 10 years is highest in stratum C (19.2 trees/ha), the lowest in B (4.2 trees/ha). In the latter, cut intensity (22.3 % of GS), the mean dbh of harvested silver firs are highest, too. For active conservation of silver fir, reduction of the impact of large ungulates and differentiated silviculture with longer regeneration periods is of crucial importance. Some other measures are also suggested

Experts’ Perceptions of the Effects of Forest Biomass Harvesting on Sustainability in the Alpine Region

Background and Purpose: In the EU political agenda, the use of forest biomass for energy has grown rapidly and significantly, in order to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and reduce the energy dependence on fossil fuels of European member countries. The target of the EU climate and energy package is to raise the share of renewable energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20% in 2020 (Directive 2009/28/EC). With regards to biomass energy, the supply of forest wood biomass is expected to rise by 45% (reference period: 2006-2020), in response to increasing demand for renewable sources. The increase of forest biomass supply could have both positive and negative effects on several forest ecosystem services (ESs) and local development. These effects should be assessed in a proper manner and taken into account when formulating management strategies. The aim of the paper is to assess the environmental, economic and social sustainability of forest biomass harvesting for energy, using the Figure of Merit (FoM) approach. Materials and Methods: Sustainability was assessed through a set of four indicators: two focused on experts’ opinions regarding the effects of forest biomass harvesting and the other two focused on the cost-benefit analysis (potential energy obtained and costs for wood chips). The research was developed through four case studies located in the Alpine Region. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered face-to-face to 32 selected experts. The perceived effects of forest biomass harvesting for energy on ESs and local development were evaluated by experts using a 5-point Likert scale (from “quite negative effect” to “quite positive effect”). Results: All experts agree that forest biomass harvesting has a positive effect on forest products provision and local economic development (employment of local workforce, local entrepreneurship and market diversification), while the effects on other ESs are controversial (e.g. carbon sequestration, habitat quality, natural hazards protection and recreational values). Conclusions: Therefore, it can be asserted that the effects of forest biomass harvesting on sustainability vary according to the local context. The results of FoM can support decision makers in order to analyze the environmental, social and economic sustainability of forest biomass harvesting for energy

A new ecosystem services approach to enable identification of pro-biodiversity businesses of protected karst areas in Central and South-Eastern Europe

This study was completed in the frame of the project ECO KARST – Ecosystem services of karst protected areas – driving force of local sustainable development, funded by Interreg Danube Transnational Programme.Protected areas are a leading conservation tool for preserving biodiversity. However, the restrictions on human uses often engender resistance of local communities to the idea of living in protected environment. This paper describes the preparation of Biodiversity Investment Opportunities (BIO) maps for seven case areas in Central and South-Eastern Europe, using participatory methods. BIO maps have been further developed with the in-volvement of local stakeholders to define areas that can support economic activities while achieving a no net loss or even benefits for nature. The BIO maps can then be used to foster the development of Pro-Biodiversity Businesses (PBBs). PBBs are enterprises that generate financial returns without compromising the natural envi-ronments they depend on. PBBs were found to be a viable solution, effective in changing the perceptions of both the park managers and the local people towards the protected areas. Moreover, these enterprises can improve the local livelihoods, as well as actively protect nature and biodiversity. Therefore, the approach presented in this paper can be adopted as a model for managing any protected area and conserving cultural landscapes.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Dolina Triglavskih jezer

In 1924, the Triglav Lakes Valley was designated a protected area, which is today part of the central area of extensive Triglav National Park. The lakes give a special character to the valley, which also stands out for its other natural features. In terms of nonliving nature, this volume presents some of the valley’s geological, geomorphological, and hydrological characteristics, and, in terms of living nature, it presents its vegetation, focusing on botanical characteristics and forest. The volume also discusses the human presence and its impact on the appearance of the landscape.Leta 1924 je bilo v Dolini Triglavskih jezer vzpostavljeno zavarovano območje. Danes je del osrednjega dela obsežnejšega Triglavskega narodnega parka. Dolini dajejo poseben pečat jezera, izstopa pa tudi po drugih naravnih posebnostih. V okviru nežive narave so v knjigi predstavljene nekatere njene geološke, reliefne in vodne značilnosti, v okviru žive narave pa rastje, s poudarkom na botaničnih značilnostih in gozdu. Knjiga predstavlja tudi človekovo prisotnost in njegov vpliv na videz pokrajine

Quality and timber value of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) trees in the Karavanke region

Although European larch is a commercially important tree species in the Alps, this study is among the first focusing on the quality and value of larch trees. Data from permanent sample plots of the Slovenia Forest Service (802 plots; 1851 trees) was used to model the quality and value of standing larch trees. The share of excellent and very good quality timber amounted to 49%, but the share of veneer logs and sawlogs I was only 11.7%. The quality and value of larch trees were positively influenced by the diameter at breast height and stand basal area, and negatively by altitude and harvesting intensity. In addition, timber value was higher in stands in regeneration and uneven-aged stands and in stands with a low share of spruce or high share of deciduous tree species. Trees from higher social layers and undamaged trees also proved to have more valuable timber. The quality of larch trees was lower on extreme beech and pine forest types

Treatment of forest stands in the forest planning on the case of Bohinj and Pohorje forest areas

The research focused on the mapping, classifying and dealing with forest stands in forest management planning. Stands were analysed in the forest areasof Bohinj (Forest management region Bled) and Pohorje (FMR Maribor) with a total area of 29,95 0 hectares. Analyses of silvicultural units were carried out on a systematically selected sample, amounting to 9 % and 10 % of forest area at the Bohinj and Pohorje sites, respectively. The average area of delineated stands at the Bohinj site was 1.04 ha (Me = 0.5 3 ha) and 2.30 ha (Me = 1.33 ha) in the Pohorje site. The average area of silvicultural units is 2.00 ha (Me = 0.95 ha) at Bohinj and 1.88 ha (Me = 0.92 ha) at Pohorje sites. The size of stands depends mostly on stand structure, surveyor, site conditions, forest management practices and tradition