VATH TABAKU1*, ELVIN TOROMANI1, LEONIDHA PERI1
|
1*Agricultural University of Tirana, FFS, Department of Forestry, Tirana, Albania; Abstract This study aims to assess the state of forest stands regeneration in old-growth beech forest areas treated with shelterwood cutting 2010-20 and determine the necessity of intervention with silvicultural measures, to restore the ecological balance in the forest stands. The object of the assessment were the forest areas exploited within the frame-work of long-term exploitation contracts. The National Forest Agency reports on 10 long-term contracts concluded between forest exploitation subjects and 4 Municipalities (Librazhd, Elbasan, Korça & Gramsh). This paper sought to answer whether or not shelter-wood cutting system was successful in our study area by evaluating the effect of shelter-wood cutting in 2015 and 2024, in stand structure (tree DBH, basal area, crown diameter, tree height) and regeneration density. Since the exploited areas are virgin forests, in this study we will also give our opinion on whether these interventions have been reasonable in terms of European Objectives for the preservation of virgin beech forests, as well as in the rehabilitation of coniferous forests in Albania, especially silver fir (Fig. 1). The aim of this study was to analyze natural regeneration reliability under favorable conditions in treated beech stands. Keywords: virgin forests, close-to-nature silviculture, shelterwood cutting, natural regeneration, beech forest |
