EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - UNESCO World Heritage

Pre-proposal No 1 MICKING PRIMEVAL FORESTS PATTERNS
IN NATURE-BASED FOREST RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (“PRIMEFOR”)
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meval forests patterns support saprophagous organisms groups, e. g. millipedes, gastropods, saproxylophagous beetles and xylobiont
fungi, birds nesting in tree cavities and others. They in turn may strongly influence primeval forests traits, such as the spatial heterogeneity
of surface humus and natural regeneration. Therefore, these and other important interactions, such as those between ungulates
and their predators in relation to natural regeneration dynamics, will be studied. Comparatively less attention will be paid to biodiversity
inventories. Task leader: RAK; Involved partners: ZVO, RAK, BRA
Task 5: Mimicking of primeval forests patterns in close to nature forestry; Task description and approach: Three teams in this network
(GOT, ZVO, LJU) have made independently significant contributions to the study of primeval forests patterns and their incorporation into
close-to nature silviculture. These teams join forces in this network to evaluate primeval forests patterns and experiments, as well as to
emulate the underlying processes by means of computer modeling. In that way, new applications and recipes for nature-based management
of forest resources will be developed. That approach will draw on findings from previous tasks. We envision that ESRs employed
in the network are thoroughly exposed to both theory-building and empirical research. Task leader: GOT; Involved partners: ZVO,
LJU, GOT, RAK, BRA
4.2 Research facilities
We have chosen approximately fifty primeval forests of outstanding authenticity and integrity. The group reflects the variability of climax
forests across an area that extends from Central France to Western Ukraine and from Southern Sweden to the mountainous part of Central
Italy. The group includes primeval forest in the Slovak republic (e. g. Kasivarova, Dobroc, Havesova,), in Ukraine (e. g. Uholka, Svydovets,
Kuzyi-Trybushany) and in Slovenia (e. g. Strmec) They are composed mainly of sessile oak (Quercus petraea), European beech
(Fagus sylvatica), silver fir (Abies alba) and Norway spruce (Picea excelsa). These species represent the backbone of the European
forestry and some of the best studied tree species in Europe. The field sites were selected from areas close to the home institutions of
the network partners. In these localities, advanced research methods will be applied. Besides, teams in Zvolen, Rakhiv, Ljubljana and
Göttingen avail of series of experimental plots where close-to-nature forest management methods are applied, which enable comparative
studies based on multiple replications.
4.3 Selected research methods
The research teams have further developed within collaborative research, e. g. by O’Linger et. al (1997), and successfully applied the
following selection of methods: Site capacity determination: As opposed to usual site descriptions, the field method relies on the determination
of site parameters in absolute terms, e. g. total amount of available nutrients instead of concentration only. This is achieved by
the conversions using for instance the total volume of forest soil cover. The variables will be measured by advanced technology, such
as electrical resistivity tomography, Time Domain Reflectometry, elemental analyzers and others owned by several teams (ZVO, DUB).
Population genetics of forest tree species: Our 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