Clear-cuttings effect in ecological restoration of the Norway spruce stands damaged by red deer

Yıl 2018, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 23 - 34, 24.02.2018

Cristian Gheorghe Sidor , Radu Vlad

Öz

In the recent decades, in Norway spruce forests have been reported ecological imbalances caused by red deer by bark-stripping, with a great impact on stability and productivity of the stand. When the economic efficiency of the Norway spruce stands starts to decrease, due to the wood volume with stem decay, an ecological restoration of this ecosystems is imposed. This study reports a case study from the north of Eastern Carpathians. It presents the results of nine experiments from two of the most affected area from North of Romania by red deer, in order to test the success of applying some forestry treatments: the progressive clear-strip cutting (stands more than 10 hectares) and the clear cutting on small areas (stand less than 10 hectares), with reference to strip width, the direction of the strips, the felling direction, the regeneration process and the cuts return interval. Number of extracted trees∙ha^-1 varied between 1340 and 324 and the extracted volume was between 457 m³∙ha^-1 and 181 m³∙ha^-1. The proportion of stem decay volume was important (between 23% and 42%), being related to the stand age. In stands over 50 years, the wood volume with stem decay is less than 30% (23% to 27%), while in those over 35(40) years, it is greater than 33% (34% to 42%). A successful regeneration (natural and artificial), in the time elapsed from the implementation of the previous forestry treatments (about 25 years), support the success of the applied ecological restoration. The progressive clear-strip cutting and clear cuttings on small areas, as part of the ecological restoration of the red deer damaged Norway spruce stands, showed good results, and could be considered as a tool for the ecological restoration of these stands.

Kaynakça

• Akashi, N. (2009). Simulation of the effects of deer browsing on forest dynamics. Ecological Research 24: 247–255.
• Ballon, P., Hamard, J.P., Klein, F. (2005). Importance des dégâts de cervidés en forêt. Principaux acquis et recommandations suite à la mise en place d’un observatoire national. Revue forestière française 5: 399-412.
• Beguin, J., Pothier, D., Prévost, M. (2009). Can the impact of deer browsing on tree regeneration be mitigated by shelterwood cutting and strip clearcutting? Forest Ecology and Management 257 (1): 38–45.
• Čermák, P., Strejček, M. (2007). Stem decay by Stereum sanguinolentum after red deer damage in the Českomoravská vrchovina Highlands. Journal of Forest Science 53(12): 567-572.
• Čermák, P., Glogar, J., Jankovský, L. (2004). Damage by deer barking and browsing and subsequent rots in Norway spruce stands of Forest Range Mořkov, Forest District Frenštát p. R. (the Beskids Protected Landscape Area). Journal of Forest Science 50(1): 20-24.
• deCalesta, D., Stout, S. (1997). Relative deer density and sustainability: a conceptual framework for integrating dear management with ecosystem management”. Wildlife Society Bulletin 25: 252-258.
• Gheysen, T., Brostaux, Y., Hébert, J., Ligot, G., Rondeux, J., Lejeune, P. (2011). A regional inventory and monitoring setup to evaluate bark peeling damage by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in coniferous plantations in Southern Belgium. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 181: 335-345.
• Gill, R.M.A., Webber, J., Peace, A. (2001). The Economic Implications of Deer Damage: A review of current evidence. The Deer Commission for Scotland. Annual Report 1999-2000.
• Giurgiu, V., Drăghiciu, D. (2004). Modele matematico-auxologice și tabele de producție în arborete. Bucharest, Ceres Press.
• Hasle, G., Haavardtun, J., Kloster, O., Løkketangen, A. (2000). Interactive planning for sustainable forest management. Annals of Operations Research 95: 19-40.
• Hlásny, T., Křístek, S., Holuša, J., Trombik, J., Urbaňcová, N. (2011). Snow disturbances in secondary Norway spruce forests in Central Europe: Regression modeling and its implications for forest management. Forest Ecology and Management 262: 2151-2161.
• Jackson, S.T., Hobbs, R.J. (2009). Ecological Restoration in the Light of Ecological History. Science 325: 567-569.
• Jeglum, J.K., Kennington, D.J. (1993). Strip Clearcutting in Black Spruce: A Guide for the Practicing Forester. Forestry Canada, Ontario Region, Great Lakes Forestry Center.
• Kaien, C. (2006). Deer browsing and impact on forest development. Journal of Sustainable Forestry 21(2-3): 53-64.
• Kiffner, C., Rößiger, E., Trisl, O., Schulz, R., Rühe, F. (2008). Probability of recent bark stripping damage by red deer (Cervus elaphus) on Norway spruce (Picea abies) in a low mountain range in Germany – a preliminary analysis. Silva Fennica 42(1): 125–134.
• Kishimoto, Y., Fujiki, D., Sakata, H. (2010). Management approach using simple indices of deer density and status of understory vegetation for conserving deciduous hardwood forests on a regional scale. Journal of Forest Research 15: 265–273.
• Niinimäki, S., Tahvonen, O., Mäkelä, A. (2012). Applying a process-based model in Norway spruce management. Forest Ecology and Management 265: 102-115.
• Pothier, D. (2000). Ten-year results of strip clear-cutting in Quebec black spruce stands. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 30(1): 59-66.
• Randveer, T., Heikkilä, R. (1996). Damage caused by moose (Alces alces L.) by bark stripping of Picea abies. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 11(1-4): 153-158.
• Schlaepfer, R. (1987). L'aménagement des forets instrument de la sauvegarde et de la reconstitution des forêts du monde. Revue forestière française 5: 419-424.
• Scott, D.,Welch, D., Elston, D.A. (2009). Long-term effects of leader browsing by deer on the growth of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis). Forestry 82(4): 387-401.
• Slodicak, M., Novak, J. (2006). Silvicultural measures to increase the mechanical stability of pure secondary Norway spruce stands before conversion. Forest Ecology and Management 224: 252-257.
• Vasaitis, R., Lygis, V., Vasiliauskaite, I., Vasiliauskas, R. (2012). Wound occlusion and decay in Picea abies stems. European Journal of Forest Research 131: 1211-1216.
• Vasiliauskas, R., Stenlid, J. (1998). Spread of Stereum sanguinolentum vegetative compatibility groups within a stand and within stems of Picea abies. Silva Fennica 32(4): 301-309.
• Verheyden, H., Ballon, P., Bernard, V., Saint-Andrieux, C. (2006). Variations in bark-stripping by red deer Cervus elaphus across Europe. Mammal Review 36(3): 217-234.
• Vlad, R. (2007a). Biometrical and growth characteristics to the Norway spruce stands damaged by deer. Bucharest, Silvică Press. (In Romanian with an abstract in English).
• Vlad, R. (2007b). Silvicultural fundaments for the management of the Norway spruce stands damaged by deer. Bucharest, Silvică Press. (In Romanian with an abstract in English).
• Vlad, R., Sidor, C. (2011). Amplitude of the deer damage in the Norway spruce forest of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences 6: 207-214.
• Vospernik, S. (2006). Probability of bark stripping damage by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Austria. Silva Fennica 40(4): 589–601.
• Ward, I.A., White, C.L.P., Smith, A., Critchley, C. (2004). Modelling the cost of roe deer browsing damage to forestry. Forest Ecology and Management 191(1–3): 301-310
• Welch, D., Scott, D. (2001). Timber degrade due to deer bark-stripping. Forestry and British Timber 1: 20-23.
• Welch, D., Scott, D. (2008). An estimate of timber degrade in Sitka spruce due to bark stripping by deer in a Scottish plantation. Forestry 81(4): 489-497.
• Welch, D., Staines, B.W., Scott, D., Catt, D.C., (1987). Bark stripping damage by red deer in a Sitka spruce forest in Western Scotland. I. Incidence. Forestry 60(2): 249-262
• Welch, D., Staines, B.W., Scott, D., Catt, D.C. (1988). Bark Stripping Damage by Red Deer in a Sitka Spruce Forest in Western Scotland: II. Wound Size and Position. Forestry 61(3): 245-254.
• Żmihorski, M., Durska, E. (2011). The effect of contrasting management types on two distinct taxonomic groups in a large-scaled windthrow. European Journal of Forest Research 130: 589-600.