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THE ASSESSMENT OF SPECIAL LANSCAPE CUTTING OF SCOTS PINE PINUS SYLVESTRIS L. FOREST STANDS IN THE FOREST PARK MEZAPARKS OF RIGA, LATVIA
Abstract
The aim of this study is to estimate the outcome of special cutting method developed for old pine stands in Riga?s forest park Mezaparks. Its topicality is defined by the increase in urban population, cities? areas, and green spaces there. The functions of cities? green areas are specific and it is very important to develop and evaluate special methods of forest management for urban forests. The research was carried out in the forest park Mezaparks, in a 183-year old Scots pine stand with an area of 4.32 ha, where the special landscape cut has been planned. For all the living trees with a diameter at breast hight (DBH) of more than 5 cm, the height and tree species were determined, for dead wood ? tree species, length and diameter were measured. Using the requirements of special landscape cut locations and areas of cutting plots were found and all trees to be cut were measured. The collected data were used in calculations to characterize forest stand and managment method of special landscape cut. In total, 12 tree species, four shrub species, 14 herb species and three moss species were found in the stand. Vegetation analysis shows that anthropogenic factors have affected the habitat, causing eutrophication and sinantropization processes. The calculated stand volume of 325 m3ha-1 was bigger than the average stand volume in similar growing conditions in Latvia, while the amount of dead wood - 1.59 m3ha-1 was significantly smaller than the average amount required for maintening biodiversity in the habitat. In the studied stand, 18 old Scots pine trees meet the requirements of special landscape cut and 11 open areas will be made using this method. The average open area for each tree will be 609.3 В± 28.3 m2 and this area is appropriate for natural regeneration of Scots pine. The total area of cut will be 0.67 ha and the total volume of trees to be cut will be 154 m3. Comparing these data to the results of other studies and statistics, it was concluded, that this method can be used to ensure sustainability of the habitat and natural regeneration of Scots pine, at the same time profitable for the forest owner.
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