Silvicultural options to promote natural regeneration of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Western Ukrainian forests

Abstract

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests belong to the most relevant forest types in the Western Ukrainian Roztochia area. The promotion of close-to-nature forest management in Ukraine in the framework of the forest strategy 2 035 supports natural regeneration and the application of diverse felling methods beyond clearcutting. In the present study, natural regeneration was analysed in mixed Scots pine stands on poor and relatively rich soils, after small clearcuts, shelterwood cutting and gap fellings (with or without soil preparation), with respect to tree species composition, species abundance and height growth. It could be shown that Scots pine is the most abundant species in all the felling systems, with on average more than 100 000 plants per ha on poor soils. Other admixed tree species only occur with small shares. Natural regeneration, especially of Scots pine, was less abundant on rich soils and in shelterwood, compared to a small clearcut. After the young plants have established, their abundance declined in the second and third year due to competing herbaceous plants and thick litter.

German-Ukrainian Efforts Towards Building Climate-Resilient Forests in Western Ukraine – First Results of Alternative Regeneration Systems

“…The first scientific results are shown in more detail below (for methodological details and more results see also Lavnyy et al 2022, Lavnyy et al 2021.…”

“…The rest consisted of pedunculate oak, red oak, rowan and coat willow. The group selection cutting method led to higher amounts of natural seedlings compared to all other silvicultural systems applied, even compared to clearcut (for more details on the latter, see also Lavnyy et al 2022).…”

Адаптація Соснових Насаджень До Змін Клімату (На Прикладі Філії "Рава-Руське ЛГ")

“…Аналіз іноземних публікацій показав, що для адаптації лісів до змін клімату та підвищення біологічної стійкості соснових насаджень потрібно з молодого віку проводити доглядові рубання з метою регулювання просторової і вертикальної структури деревостанів [4,20]. Експериментальні дослідження українських науковців показали, що рівномірно-поступові і груповопоступові рубки головного користування забезпечують добре природне поновлення сосни звичайної [19]. З метою адаптації лісів до змін клімату потрібно ширше застосовувати рубки переформування.…”

Natural afforestation of the fallows in the Western Polissya

“…The authors of [14] argue that the process of natural restoration is complex and depends on a number of environmental factors, namely: thickness of the litter, density and closeness of herbaceous plants, vegetation layer, and abundance of fruiting (seed years). The most abundant natural renewal occurs in areas with only weak competition from terrestrial vegetation.…”

“…To protect and preserve vulnerable 1-2-year-old undergrowth and self-seeding of Scots pine, it is necessary to remove weeds and unwanted woody vegetation. Ultimately, the right combination of these measures and their timely implementation will ensure high quality of natural renewal of Scots pine [14].…”