Journal of Forest Science, 2012 (vol. 58), issue 10

Financial and socio-economic impacts of nature conservation on forestry in Slovakia

M. Kovalčík, Z. Sarvašová, M. Schwarz, M. Moravčík, M. Oravec, J. Lásková, J. Tutka

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(10):425-435 | DOI: 10.17221/14/2012-JFS  

The article deals with financial and socio-economic impacts of nature conservation in forest and wood industries of Slovakia. The paper presents costs and losses of state budget, forest enterprises and wood-processing companies caused by restrictions related to Act No. 543/2002 on Nature and Landscape Protection. Total financial impacts were calculated at 26.98 mil. EUR and total socio-economic impacts based on revenues of the wood-processing industry at 167.81 mil. EUR, which means a loss of 2,268 jobs. These financial and socio-economic impacts were partially compensated, the sum of compensations reached 2.79 mil. EUR.

Modelling forest dynamics in a nature reserve: a case study from south-central Sweden

I. Kozak, G. Mikusiński, A. Stępień, H. Kozak, R. Frąk

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(10):436-445 | DOI: 10.17221/28/2012-JFS  

This paper presents a modelling study on the forest dynamics in Helgedomen Nature Reserve (HNR) in Sweden. The main components of the forest transitions that occurred between 1930 and 2010 were described. The gradual conversion of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominated stands into stands with a high proportion of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) was observed. Next, the capabilities of the modelling system (FORKOME) in predicting the future development of forests in the reserve were tested. The model was validated by simulating forest development from 1930 to 2010, and then it was applied to project the future development...

Effects of roads on understory plant communities in a broadleaved forest in Hyrcanian zone

M. Lotfalian, N. Riahifar, A. Fallah, S. M. Hodjati

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(10):446-455 | DOI: 10.17221/29/2012-JFS  

This study was conducted to assess the effect of forest road as a corridor on local biodiversity. For this purpose, 10 segments in a 10 year-old road were selected in Neka-Zalemrood forest in Hyrcanian zone. At each of the segments, we established two 100-m transects perpendicular to the road centre line, within which we sampled three macroplots of an area 400 m². In each macroplot, nine quadrant microplots 2 × 2 m in size were set up for regenerated tree species and herbaceous plant survey. Chemical and physical parameters of soil were measured in laboratory. Results indicated that thirty-six herbaceous species and 13 regenerated tree species...

Development of spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) target (crop) trees in pole-stage stand with different initial spacing and tending regime

I. Štefančík

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(10):456-464 | DOI: 10.17221/38/2012-JFS  

This paper presents findings of a twenty-year investigation of silviculture-production in a 40-year-old afforested spruce pole-stage stand located in a mountain region. The stand was established by four different spacing models: (i) 1.5 × 1.0 m, (ii) 2.5 × 1.0 m, (iii) 2.5 × 1.5 m, and (iv) 2.5 × 2.5 m. Three alternatives were studied for each of these spacing models. These were: (i) geometrical (line) thinning, (ii) selective thinning and (iii) no tending. During the period of our research the above-mentioned stand was affected twice by a snow-break disaster. Promising and target trees in the stand were marked and selected at the beginning...

Toward the rational use of forest biomass: Lithuanian case study

I. Varnagiryté-Kabašinskiené

J. For. Sci., 2012, 58(10):465-471 | DOI: 10.17221/10/2012-JFS  

This paper contains the information about some principles of sustainable forestry which are still relevant in the world. In 2002, Lithuania started research on the nutrient balance in forest ecosystems when the forest fuel is harvested. The consequences of the intensive forest fuel harvesting on the forest ecosystem were analysed. At the same time, the experiment on the compensatory wood ash fertilizing was established in Lithuania. After the initial calculations, having the experimental data, the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania has initiated the preparation of the Recommendations for compensating wood ash fertilization in the...