CHARACTERISTICS OF METASEQUOIA GLYPTOSTROBOIDES ARTIFICIAL COMMUNITY КОKАLУАNЕ VILLAGE, SOFIA REGION

The aim of the present study is phytocoenological characteristics and preliminary assessment of the health status of the first Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) artificial plantation in Bulgaria established in 1969. The plantation of metasequoia is located in the land of the Kokalyane village (Sofia region) on an area of about 2500 m2. The study was conducted in the period April-July, 2021. The results show that the artificial stand was created on the locality of indigenous communities of Alnus glutinosa, which occupy the main part of the Iskar river banks between Plana and Lozenska mountains. The health status of the Dawn redwood plantation was assessed as “good”. From the distance of the 50-year period, the artificial afforestation with this exotic relic in the area of the village of Kokalyane can be considered successful.