Ukrainian Journal of Forest and Wood Science

In the Bukovyna Precarpathian region, forests dominated by European beech occupy an area of over 60 thou. ha and perform important social, environmental and economic functions. Balance of these functions depends on efficiency of managerial decisions on restoration, protection, and rational use of forest resources. An information basis for securing sustainable forest management is represented by a system of regulatory and information support. Yield tables of modal stands is an important component of this system. Aiming at expanding the mentioned system with the adequate information on regional peculiarities of growth of beech stands, within this research we have developed mathematical models of dynamics of mensurationalind ices, and yield tables for modal beech stands of natural origin in Bukovyna Precarpathian region within the territorial borders of Chernivtsi region. The share of beech stands of natural origin in the study region exceeds 95 %. The information basis of the research is represented by the database of IA “Ukrderzhlisproekt”, which contains information on stand-level biometric characteristics of beech stands in the study region, and data collected on 20 temporary sample plots. Growth analysis included taking over 1 thou. sample sections from model trees. We have applied logistic, power and polynomial functions for modelling the desired dependencies. As a result, we propose mathematical models of mean height, mean diameter, relative stocking, growing stock, and share of main species in stand composition. Based on the mentioned models, we have developed site index dependent regional yield tables for stands dominated by European beech. We have also compared our results with those of other authors. The comparison has revealed regional growth and yield peculiarities of the studied stands, which, among many factors, are also conditioned by peculiarities of forest management system linked with the special use of forest resources.

European beech, dynamics of mensurational indices, site index, modelling, growth peculiarities, mathematical model, Chernivtsi region