THE REGENERATION OF SCOTS PINE PINUS SYLVESTRIS L. AFTER SELECTIVE FELLING IN HYLOCOMIOSA FOREST SITE TYPE

Abstract

The objects of study are Hylocomiosa forest site forests owned by government and managed by JSC �Latvia�s State Forests�. Research object is a part of forest protection zone around cities. In those protection zones clear-cut is forbidden by law. In order to promote forest growth and mitigate the negative effects of climate change, forests in protected zones also need to be properly managed. The aim of research is to evaluate regeneration success of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L after group selection felling in Hylocomiosa forest site type. The data required for the research were obtained by establishing 25 m2 sample plots in five research objects: three of those research objects are after first step of group selection felling and two objects after the first step of overall selection felling. An annual height increases of Scots pine (starting from the second year) was measured in the sample plots of the first group selection felling openings (0.2 ha) and the number of trees was determined in one four-year-old and two biennial young stands. The heights of Scots pines were measured and compared in the four year old group selection felling site and in two overall selection felling sites by evenly establishing sample plots on the longest diagonal of the research area. The prediction of the next group felling step by registering at least one meter high Scots pine was done. The study found that in the Hylocomiosa forest site by artificial regeneration the area with Scots pine, both - two and four years after regeneration, the number of trees per hectare is sufficient. The increase of the height and annual height of Scots pine in the second year after restoration are similar among sites. It is potential to predict the time period after which the next step of selection felling will be possible. The natural regeneration of Scots pine under canopy of the remaining stand takes twice as long as artificial regeneration in gaps after group selection felling.