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Actual and Balanced Stand Structure: Examples from Beech-Fir-Spruce Old-Growth Forests in the Area of the Dinarides in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author

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  • Zoran Govedar

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska)

  • Milun Krstić

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia)

  • Srđan Keren

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-425 Krakow, Poland)

  • Violeta Babić

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia)

  • Brane Zlokapa

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, 78000 Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Srpska)

  • Branko Kanjevac

    (Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia)

Abstract

Old-growth forests are spontaneously developed forest ecosystems without direct human influence in which only natural processes take place. In this study we analyzed the structural sustainability of beech-fir-spruce old-growth forests on dolomite and limestone in the Bosnian Dinaric Mountains. The field work was carried out on permanent experimental plots of 1.0 hectare in size. Thereby, the diameters (d 1.30 ) and the height (h) of all trees within the plots were measured. Based on the available literature, we hypothesized that the structure of old-growth forests provides sustainability through tree-size demographic equilibrium. Thus, the data collected were used to test possible differences between the actual and the theoretically balanced structure in the studied old-growth forests. Statistically significant difference in the actual structure between the two old-growth forests on limestone and dolomite was determined. However, both of them exhibited sustainable diameter distributions. These results point to the importance of preserving old-growth forests for future research as they exemplify the tree-size demographic sustainability and can thus serve as an appropriate reference to managed forests. Concretely, certain structural attributes from old-growth forests could be embedded into the management objectives for increased resilience of managed forests.

Suggested Citation

  • Zoran Govedar & Milun Krstić & Srđan Keren & Violeta Babić & Brane Zlokapa & Branko Kanjevac, 2018. "Actual and Balanced Stand Structure: Examples from Beech-Fir-Spruce Old-Growth Forests in the Area of the Dinarides in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-15, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:2:p:540-:d:132332
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Takashi Hayashi & Daisuke Sawauchi & Daisuke Kunii, 2017. "Forest Maintenance Practices and Wood Energy Alternatives to Increase Uses of Forest Resources in a Local Initiative in Nishiwaga, Iwate, Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Fangzheng Li & Shasha Lu & Yinan Sun & Xiong Li & Benye Xi & Weiqi Liu, 2015. "Integrated Evaluation and Scenario Simulation for Forest Ecological Security of Beijing Based on System Dynamics Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-29, October.
    3. Toshiya Yoshida & Sayoko Naito & Misato Nagumo & Natsumi Hyodo & Taiki Inoue & Hiromitsu Umegane & Haruka Yamazaki & Hisashi Miya & Futoshi Nakamura, 2017. "Structural Complexity and Ecosystem Functions in a Natural Mixed Forest under a Single-Tree Selection Silviculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
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