Structural characteristics of planted and naturally regenerated brutian pine stands

Abstract

The acreage of secondary brutian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) stands established both naturally following clearcutting and reforestation planting increases over the forest landscapes in the Mediterranean Region. Considering natural mature stands, the structural characteristics of these secondary stands should be assessed for an efficient carbon and biodiversity management in the brutian pine ecosystems. The aim of this study is to i) compare some structural attributes of the reforestation plantings and naturally regenerated stands of brutian pine in similar age and ii) to determine the trends in features regarding stand structures of reforestation and naturally regenerating stands with regard to successional stages and their convergence towards natural stand conditions. We identified eight different aged stand groups that are similar with respect to altitude, aspect, slope, soil parent material. Five stands were selected from each group. Then, 5 sampling plot randomly located were measured for each stand. Within each sample plot, we measured and calculated the attributes fallowing; basal area (m2/ha), stem volume (m3/ha), canopy caver percentage (%), litter (ton/ha), humus (ton/ha), carbon (C) ratio in topsoil (%), coarse woody debris (m3/ha), fine woody debris (ton/ha), and woody species richness. In conclusion, we can say that regeneration and reforestation practices have both positive and negative impacts on brutian pine forest ecosystems. Although the young stands showed evidence for convergence towards the conditions found in the old mature stands, more time are necessary for some attributes such as litter amount, humus, and C ratio in topsoil. Reforestation planting has a positive effect on wood production and carbon accumulation in the brutian forest ecosystems. However, it causes a decrease in the shrub lands providing important habitats for wild animals. This study suggests that a sufficient amount of old mature stands and maquis-type shrublands should be preserved intact in the heavily managed brutian pine forests.

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