EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

groups (ZVO, GOT) have expertise in studying the genetic structuring of tree species
populations using alloenzymes, isoenyzmes and DNA analyses. They are used to determine
the postglacial migration of tree species in the Carpathians and the adjacent regions and will
help determine the spatial variability of primeval forests patterns in the area of interest
(Comps et al. 2001). Global change impact detection and modeling: The main methods to
be applied are the measurement of the growth rate through basal area increments (TOR) and
time series analysis of primeval forest dynamics over past 50 years (ZVO, RAK). Structural
analysis of the primeval forests, including the gap analysis: A co-operation of two teams
(GOT, ZVO) lead to the development of a standard method applied on 10 ha plots. The
investigation includes determination of the site resources utilization, the crown volume, forest
canopy gaps, trees necromass survey, natural regeneration and other parameters. The research
will rely on ground measurements and the evaluation of aerial photographs or satellite images
from IKONOS or Quickbird satellites. Growth models: Forest structure generators
(SIBYLA) developed by two teams (ZO, GOT) within a co-operative research will be used to
generate individual tree data from stand data and predict spatial structure. This is inasmuch
significant that the close-to-nature forestry approach is increasingly concerned with individual
trees, their production and stability. Thinning models (SIBYLA Cultivator, SIBYLA
Prophesier) shall be employed to model autoselection as compared to tending, thinning and
harvesting.
5. Collective experience and collaboration between the research teams
Our network includes complementary research skills from population genetics,
biogeochemical cycling, forest ecology, silviculture and forest management, environmental
sciences and mathematical modeling, which are required for successful accomplishment of
the ultimate aim of the network. Task #1 involves the majority of teams, while each of the
remaining tasks include 3 to 5 teams having the necessary expertise, with the network
coordinator (BRA) being involved in each task. Thus, the network overcomes geographic and
interdisciplinary fragmentation and establishes the critical mass of scientific capacity in order
to significantly advance the theory and practice of nature based management of forest
resources, capable of adapting to site conditions where it is applied and to new conditions yet
to be experienced. The network partners are:
UKE – Institute of Landscape Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava,
Slovakia: Network coordinator. The institute has been participating in nine projects within
the 5 th EU and 6 th EU Framework Programs: BIOSCENE, BIOPRESS, CARBOMONT,
BIOHAB, BIOPLATFORM, BIOFORUM, RURAL-ETINET, ALTERNET and SENSOR.
The team under the leadership of Dr. J. Oszlányi, the institute’s director, has co-operated with
all network partners. The main contributions of this team to the network consist in
investigations of biomass production, carbon accumulation and biodiversity survey in forest
ecosystems, as well as regionalization of results and the network management.
Two key publications:
Oszlányi, J., 2001: Research in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as one of the elements of the
Seville Strategy. Ekológia – Bratislava. 20 (3): 45–53.
Oszlányi, J., Grodzinska, K., Badea, O., Sharpyk, Y.: Nature conservation in Central and
Eastern Europe with a special emphasis on the Carpathian Mountains. Environmental
Pollution. 130 (1): 17–32.
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