DEAD WOOD AMOUNT AND REGENERATION IN SCOTS PINE (Pinus sylvestris L.) DIFFERENT AGE STANDS IN THE BURN OF THE "STIKLU PURVI" NATURE RESERVE

Abstract

The forest is affected by various anthropogenic and natural disturbances causing damage to the ecosystem and financial losses. In this research work, emphasis is placed on one of the most important forest disturbancesfire. One of the largest fires in Latvia was in 2018 in the "Stiklu purvi" nature reserve, which affected 1,353 ha of forest territory. The aim of the study was to evaluate the regeneration process of different age Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in the nature reserve "Stiklu purvi" burn. The data were obtained in the nature reserve " Stiklu purvi" burn, which is located in Valdgales parish of Talsi district and Usmas and Puze parishes of Ventspils district. The surveyed areas were nine sample plots, which were 2000 m 2 in size each. The calculations were compared with the data obtained in 2019 and conclusions were drawn. From the results of the study, we conclude that since 2019 in all stands the average diameter of trees has increased by 3.5 cm. The average height in young and middle-aged stands has increased, but in overgrown stands it has decreased, which we can explain by tree mortality. Compared to the results of 2021, in 2022 both the average basal area and the average wood stock have decreased in all stands. Since 2021, the amount and diversity of dead wood and defoliation in all stands has increased. In all stands, the regeneration takes place mostly with deciduous trees.