Original scientific paper
Damage to Young Forest Due to Harvesting in Shelterwood Systems
Boštjan Košir
; University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty Department of Forestry and Forest Resources Ve~na pot 83 1000 Ljubljana SLOVENIA
Abstract
Different types of shelterwood system and group selection forests were studied to discover the extent of damage caused by logging.Motor-manual cutting and mainly tractor skidding were included. Sampling transects were used to estimate the damage to young forest and remaining stands. The whole research area was regenerated on average 31%, of which 21% was damaged. We found a higher density of designated and undesignated skid trails on larger regeneration areas. Damage to young forest and damage to remaining productive stands were compared. In this respect the whole rotation period was divided into three time intervals, the first of which designated a mixed pattern of young forest area and younger phases prior to commercial thinning, in which the last of the old mature trees are removed. The second phase is a mix of currently productive stands and some young forest, in which the first and second commercial thinnings begin, until the final stage, in which young forest becomes increasingly abundant and perspective. In the last period, damage to productive stands is high (around 70%), since they have accumulated over a long time period. The fact that better forest stand opening with skid trails means less damage to young forest, but slightly more damage to mature stands suggests the conclusion that the abundance and position of young forest patches should dictate the density and position of skid trails.
Keywords
shelterwood; young forest; damage; harvesting; motor-manual; skid trail
Hrčak ID:
32190
URI
Publication date:
6.12.2008.
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