VIRGIN FORESTS AND FOREST RESERVES IN ... - Natura 2000

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78 Forest Reserves and their Research in Romania Mixed beech-coniferous natural forests The research recorded by PAPESCU-ZELETIN and PETRESEU in 1956, and DISSESCU in 1964 (after VLAD, CHIRITA, DONITA and PETRESCU 1997) in spruce-beech-fir mixed forests shows no correlation between minimum - maximum age and diameter. Only the average age is positively correlated with diameter in range 30 - 65 cm. A beech can activate its growth even at the age of 130 - 140 years, and a fir at 100-150 years (e.g. a fir tree 465 years old had 6 cm diameter at the age of 90). The age of shrub-layer level varied between 20 - 120 years. The authors mentioned that due to ‘continuous feed-back processes’ this forest type maintained the initial structure. The regeneration in this type of mixture is possible only in open areas after old trees die. The ‘alternation of species’ in beech-fir mixtures in Semenic Mountains was described by BORLEA (1989). BANDIU (1977) explains this phenomenon as a result of differences in species radiation demands concerning light quality. The wood volume is high (600 - 1100 m 3 ), maximum tree-height is 50 - 60 m for fir and spruce, and 35 - 36 m for beech, and an average tree-height is 40 m for fir, and 32 - 36 m for beech. The stability is very high. Beech natural forest In the Semenic mountains (6,000 ha) natural beech forests still exist. Some authors (RADULESCU 1937, TARZIU 1970, PAPAVA 1977) studied natural beech in Romania, and the main conclusions are: the diameter curve is similar to the theoretical curve for selective cuttings, there is no age-diameter correlation, and only average age-diameter correlation is significant and positive. There is a positive correlation between tree-height (interval 22 - 36 m) and diameter categories (from 39 - 62 cm). The fructification variability is very large, and fructification periodicity is from 3 - 4 years to 6 - 8 years, and strongly correlated with the altitude. The growth at the age of 200 years is similar to that of 80 - 100 years (PAPAVA 1977). The volume varies in range of 322 - 1195 m 3 , and the number of trees/ha is between 160 - 588. Stability is extremely high Oak natural forests and oak-mixed natural forests Oak natural forests were very much disturbed by anthropic activities. The oak-mixed natural forests have similar structure to that of the Bialoweza forests, with the exception of spruce (DONITA and PURCELEAN 1975, VLAD, CHIRITA, DONITA and PETRESCU 1997). The spatial structure consists of three levels: lower layer with hornbeam, intermediate layer with lime, cherry-tree, elm, sycamore maple, and superior layer with species of oak, ash, and sometimes elm or ash. The regeneration of oak is possible in these conditions (according to PASCOVSCHI 1967) due to their longevity (2 - 3 times higher than other species from this type of mixed forests). The comparison of natural forest and managed forest There were no systematic studies of comparing natural forests with the managed ones in Romania. Sporadically, different authors mentioned comparison of different qualitative or quantitative aspects, underlining the superiority of natural forest. There is only one exception: PAPAVA (1979) mentioned that the quality of wood is better in even-aged stands than in natural forests, and the absence of parasites is more obvious. This must be
COST Action E4: Forest Reserves Research Network 79 discussed because at the same diameter class the age could be very different, and the action of parasites is a result of many interacting factors. Concerning other qualitative aspects, especially the genetic variability, the superiority of natural forests is obvious (the genetic variability of elm in natural population is superior to that of elm in managed forest (BORLEA 1996). THE PRESENT STATE OF RESEARCH ON NATURAL FORESTS IN ROMANIA A very important process of reform started in the entire Romanian forestry, both in institutional organisation and property regime. The specialists' efforts are focused on the establishment of the legal status for the natural forests and natural reservations in general. Actually the research network is engaged in identifying the entire area of potential forest reserves, and in including these areas into the protected areas system (project leaders Dr. Cristian STOICULESCU ICAS Bucuresti and Dr. Zeno OARCEA). Regional researches are recorded in Bucovina (spruce natural forests - Radu CENUSA , ICAS Campulung- Moldovenesc) and have just started in Banat (beech natural forests and natural forests with elm - Gheorghe Florian BORLEA, ICAS Timiosara). CONCLUSIONS In Romania the theoretical concepts of forest conservation were considerably developed in the forestry legislation from the first regulation concerning forestry to the present-day legislation (Forestry Code - 1995, the Law of Environment - 1996). The functional zoning represents the instrument used by the foresters in order to promote the conservation and sustainability of a forest. A continuous growth of the protection forest areas was recorded (from 12.7% of the total forest area in 1955, to 60% nowadays). This requires an adequate system of silvicultural intensive methods. Social problems, as well as insufficient presentation of information to people on sustainability in forestry, can produce disturbances in the effort for forest conservation and sustainable development. In the last decades the situation of forest protection has continuously improved; this year it represents 62% of the total forest area. After 1998, when the 4 th consecutive forest management plan will be completed, we expect new criteria for functional zoning. The simultaneous existence of natural and artificial forests gave the possibility to compare the two. The negative impact of dramatic climate changes in the case of artificial forest is obvious, mainly in introduced coniferous monocultures. Deforestation (clear cuttings) in mountainous land has also totally disturbed the ecological balance. Different authors presenting a classification of natural reserves in Romania use terms already mentioned in literature. Sometimes the general evolution of nature protection law has generated confusion in terms. The explanation could be that scientists are actually involved in trying to get as much natural areas under law protection as possible, and then clarify formal aspects. In presenting the problems of nature protected areas more accuracy is required. Important legislative changes are expected in the near future in order to clarify the status of large nature protected areas.
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