PREPARATION OF SILVICULTURAL PLANS IN PINUS SYLVESTRIS L. FORESTS: CASE STUDY OF OLTU PLANNING UNIT

S GUNER, H A YOLASIGMAZ
2019 Applied Ecology and Environmental Research  
Forest resources in Turkey, according to the principles of ecosystem-based, multiple-use management approach, forest management chief/planning units are governed by forest management plans. Forest management planning process involves taking inventory, preparing the database with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), determining the forest management units and silvicultural treatments, and the preparation phase. After its completion begins the process of preparing silvicultural plans. First, in
more » ... he regeneration areas, ecological conditions are evaluated and tree seeds are measured. Then regeneration methods are applied in this area and a detailed spatial and temporal planning is performed. Three different silvicultural plan tables are prepared by the forestry legislation. Beside the preparation of silvicultural plans, its enforcement has put an additional workload on forest management chief officers. Selected as a pilot region, the preparing of a silvicultural plan and monitoring its application with geographic database was undertaken at Oltu Forest Planning Unit. First of all, afforestation, regeneration and tending areas according to forest management plan were measured and evaluated. Then, the existing geographic database was updated to prepare the silvicultural plan. Then, in order to prepare and perform silvicultural prescriptions, spatial and temporal arrangements were added to the geodatabase. In the next step, the allowable cut was calculated. Finally, silvicultural treatments were applied at regeneration and tending areas, and illustrated with tables, graphs and maps. The paper is a case study for Oltu Forest Planning Unit, consisting mostly of Pinus sylvestris, while other tree species should be supported by a similar study in Turkey, particularly for mixed stands. APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 17(2):5093-5108.
doi:10.15666/aeer/1702_50935108 fatcat:5wc3hf7dhze4fkx2pfsorc6dam