COST Action E 52 - vTI - Bund.de

The sTaTe aNd ForesT maNaGemeNT sysTem
Beech is the dominant species in the growing stock in Serbia (50.4% per volume). The percentage
of beech forests in the total area of state forests in central Serbia is 4 .11%, the percentage of mixed
forests of beech and fir, and beech, fir and spruce is 4.03%. Regarding the origin, high forests occupy
69.3%, coppice forests 29.8%, brushland 0. %, and degraded forests used for fodder 0.2%. The area of
degraded and destroyed forests in beech forests is 28,2 9 ha ( .6%) (Medarević et al. 2005).
The average volume in beech forests is 21 m3 .ha-1 , average current volume increment is 4.55 m3 .ha-1 ;
the average volume in mixed forests of beech and fir is 308 m3 .ha-1 , volume increment is 6.95 m3 .ha-1 ;
the volume in mixed forests of beech, fir and spruce is 353 m3 .ha-1 , volume increment 8.24 m3 .ha-1 . The
average volume in high forests is 255 m3 .ha-1 , volume increment 5.04 m3 .ha-1 ; the average volume in
coppice forests is 166 m3 .ha-1 , average volume increment 4.30 m3 .ha-1 . Regarding the average volume
and volume increment in high forests, only about 85% of the total production potential are used, and
in coppice forests, about 65% of the production potential are used (Medarević et al. 2005).
Beech forests are classified into 35 specific purpose entities, in which 18 special objectives of
management have been defined. Production forests occupy 2 ,315 ha or 4.40% of the total area of
beech growing stock. Protection forests cover 18.48% and national parks .12% (Medarević et al.
2005).
The main characteristics of forest management systems applied in beech forests, according to Milin
(1988), can be defined as: shelterwood management system characterized by seed tree felling or
shelterwood felling with three cuts (preparatory, regeneration and removal cut) which are performed
during the regeneration period; selection management system characterized by selection cutting,
in which the trees which reached the target diameter are cut, and of the smaller diameter trees only
those that should be removed because of silvicultural reasons; and group selection management
system characterized by silvicultural groups which are not defined by the size of the area, but by
the homogeneity of stand conditions, the basic silvicultural requirement and the respective basic
silvicultural operation.
The mosT FreQueNT PhyToPaThoLoGIcaL aNd INsecT
damaGes
In the research of parasitic and saprophytic mycoflora in beech high and coppice forests in Serbia,
14 species of fungi have been identified on beech trees, of which 33 species occur on cupules,
fruits and seedlings, 56 species on foliage and bark of branches and stems, and 58 species are wood
rotting and sap stain fungi. The most harmful disease agents are Nectria species (coccinea, ditissima,
galligena), and somewhat less harmful are the fungi Phytophthora cactorum (Leb. et Cohn) Schr.,
Apiognomonia errabunda (Rob. ex Desm.) Hohnel, Cytospora spp., Diatrypella verruciformis (Her.
ex Fr.) Nits., Melanconium stromaticum Corda and Stilbospora angustata Pers. The fungus Nectria
coccinea, together with the insect from fam. Eriococcidae Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind., causes the socalled
beech bark disease. Of the 58 fungi species which infest wood, 48 species destroy beech wood
(i. e. cause wood decay), four species cause sap stain, and six species are secondary pests and therefore
they have not a practical significance. Among wood rotting fungi, the greatest economic damage is
caused by fam. Polyporaceae Fomes fomentarius (L. ex Fr.) Fr. and Hypoxylon deustum (Hoffm. ex
Fr.) Grev. and, somewhat less, by Armillaria mellea s. l. (Vahl. ex Fr.) Karst., Bjerkandera adusta
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