COST Action E 52 - vTI - Bund.de

Georgia 52 associations (forest types) are recognised while in the beech forests of the state forest
fund, regulation on felling must be justified from the forestry and environmental points of view and
is mainly based on characteristics of the specific types of beech forests (Gulisashvili 1964):
Beech forests with rhododendron sub-forest (Fagetum rhododendrosum): Beech forests of this type
are found in Western Georgia in shady damp parts of the mountains as well as in Eastern Georgia.
These stands are highly productive.
Beech forests with cherry laurel sub-forest (Fagetum laurocerasosum): They are spread in damp valleys
of Western Georgia on steep slopes of all exposures. Vegetation includes azalea, ilex, Caucasian
bilberry etc., which are mixed together with cherry laurel in the subforest.
Beech forest with dead surface (Fagetum nudum): This is sufficiently wide type of forest, and is found
mainly in the form of high-density stands. Beech forests of this type are presented in the lower and
upper belts of the distribution of beech forests:
Beech forests with dead surface in the lower belt are spread on the northern mountain slopes of mean
inclination at the altitudes 600 – 800 m. In this type of beech forest due to the high density of canopy,
natural regeneration is very limited.
Beech forests with dead surface in the middle belt are spread within the altitudes at 1,000 – 1,200 m,
mainly on slopes of north-eastern exposures. The natural regeneration of beech by seed in these
stands of high density is unsatisfactory.
Beech forests with star grass cover (Fagetum asperulosum): They are found mainly within the altitudes
800 – 1,500 – 1, 00 m. This is very wide spread type of forest and may be of two sub-types.
Beech forests with star grass cover at the middle belt are found within the altitudes 1,000 – 1,400 m.
Natural regeneration (by seeds) is satisfactory. Productivity of stands is high (growth class I-II). Here
grass cover is relatively sparse.
Beech forests with star grass cover of the upper belt are found at altitudes 1,500 – 1,800 m, mainly
on the northern exposures of mean (15 – 20°) inclination. Hornbeam and lime are mixed with beech
and here a sub-forest is seldom found. Grass cover is weakly developed.
Beech forests with fescue grass cover (Fagetum festucosum): Vertical distribution of this type of beech
forest according to height may be divided into three belts, in particular:
Beech forests with fescue grass cover of the lower belt. This type is found at the altitudes 1,000 –
1,300 m, on steep southern mountain slopes. Associated species are hornbeam, common maple, lime
etc. which are mixed with beech in these stands. Here the sub-forest is less developed. These stands
are of high productivity (growth class I-II).
Beech forests with fescue grass cover of the middle belt are found at altitudes of 1,300 – 1,500 m, on
the slopes of southern and northern (less) exposed sites. The different ages of the stands determine
their biodiversity.
Beech forests with fescue grass cover of the upper belt are found at 1,600 – 1,800 m, on the steep
slopes (inclination 21 – 35°). These stands are mainly of beech with Nordmann fir and eastern spruce
and are mixed with it in Western Georgia. Natural regeneration in medium density beech forests of
this type is satisfactory.
One of the main determining features of biological diversity of Georgian beech forests is their
distribution according to the density of stands.
Stands of medium density (0.5 – 0. ) mainly dominate in Georgian beech forests. It is noteworthy
that low-density stands occupy sufficiently large areas and the area of high-density stands have
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