Spatial Structure, Biodiversity Indicators and Carbon Stocks of the Old-Growth Natural Forests in the Protected Areas of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Abstract

Intensive management in European forests in the 20th century resulted in the substitution of the old-growth natural forests with plantations on vast territories. The spatial structure and tree species composition of the planted forests are simplified making the forests vulnerable to diseases and disturbances. The old-growth natural forests that remained in some places can be used as etalon forests for the reconstructed forests in similar environmental conditions. We studied spatial structure, biodiversity indicators and carbon stocks of the old-growth natural forests in the Ukrainian Carpathians in order to set forest management targets for the forest plantations in the region.

Keywords

• old-growth natural forest
• carbon stocks
• biodiversity indexes
• spatial distribution indexes
• etalon forest