Milan Medarevic

State and silvicultural problems of beech forests in Northeast Serbia

The state and silvicultural demands in beech forests of northeast Serbia were studied in the economic regions of Severni Kucaj, Timok and Južni Kucaj, and in the region of the National Park Đerdap. The detailed analysis of state forests was performed: representation of beech forests according to silvicultural form, origin, age structure, stand state and productivity Average volume in high beech forests of 218 m3 x ha–1 is for about 5% lower than the average in Serbia (207.2 m3 x ha–1), and it amounts to 87% of the optimal volume of beech forests in Serbia. Volume increment of 4.5 m3ha–1 is approximate to the average increment of high beech forests in Serbia, and it amounts to 75% of the optimal value. The average volume of coppice beech forests of 150 m3ha–1 is 60% of the optimal volume of beech forests in Serbia The age structure is unfavourable, because the percentage of well conserved mature stands is only about 8%. Unplanned regeneration has started on about 15% of the area. Middle-aged and maturing stands account for more than 3/4 of the total area (80%). Stand state of beech forests in this region can be assessed as close to unsatisfactory, if the criteria are conservation, origin, vitality, and also the health state Based on the above state, the concrete silvicultural demands for each silvicultural situation were determined and the silvicultural measures were proposed aiming at their rational utilisation and improvement of forest state: measures aiming at the establishment of new, quality stands and measures aiming at the improvement of the state of existing forests.

Sustainable forest management in Serbia: State and potentials

Starting from the internationally adopted definition of sustainable forest management, this paper points to the demands of sustainable forest management that can be satisfied by meeting the definite assumptions. The first part presents the objectives of forest and woodland management planning and utilisation, hunting management, and protection of protected areas, as well as the all-inclusive compatible goals of forest policy in Serbia. The second part presents the analysis of the present state of forests in Serbia, in relation to the Pan-European criteria for the assessment of sustainability, and the potentials of our forests to meet all the demands.

Structural, production and dynamic characteristics of the strict forest reserve "Račanska šljivovica" on Mt. Tara.

Mixed forests of broadleaves and conifers, thanks to their high productivity and high biodiversity, are the most valuable part of the growing stock in Serbia. The aim of this research was to analyze the mixed old-growth forests of fir, spruce and beech in the reserve “Racanska Sljivovica“ so as to define the laws which could be applied in the future forest management on Mt. Tara. The research was based on the data of six periodic complete inventories followed by standard dendrometric and statistical processing. Forest structure was similar to the typical selection structure. The recruitment dynamics (except beech) was relatively favourable, with the ratio to dead trees amounting to 1.72. The number of trees and the volume increased constantly, attaining 422.2 trees•ha-1, i.e. 800.3 m3•ha-1, and the volume increment was above 12 m3•ha-1, despite a slight drop. Silver fir was the protagonist of the selection structure and productivity. It is necessary to stimulate the survival and development of beech at the concrete site, to examine the balanced number of trees and volume, and to investigate the relationship between the number of recruited trees and the stand volume.

Major characteristics of mixed fir and beech virgin forests in the National park Biogradska Gora in Montenegro

In order to manage forest ecosystems at a sufficiently high biodiversity level it is necessary to study the ecological, structural and production characteristics of virgin forests. The research was directed towards identifying the characteristics of mixed fir and beech forests (Abieti-Fagetum s. lat.) in the area of the strict reserve of the National Park Biogradska Gora in Montenegro. Basic characteristics of these forests were researched in the process of definition of forest types. In this manner, it is for the first time that a realistic base for typological management of forests and forest ecosystems with similar ecological and structural characteristics was provided for the specific sites.