PLOT MAP comments: Strip roads are marked with the dotted line. Watercourse is marked with the solid line. Key biotopes excluded from felling are marked with circles and arrows.

Problem
Clear felling significantly impacts on habitats of many forest organisms, which cannot survive in changed conditions, so it takes a long time to recover biological diversity after clear cuts. Besides, a forest compartment may become less resistant to external pressures.

In order to maintain diversity of forest conditions and habitats in compartments planned for clear felling, prior to harvesting it is necessary to identify key biotopes – sensitive and relatively small in size areas that will be left intact.

Goal: implement clear felling with elements of biological diversity retained and subsequent regeneration through various methods.

Objectives:
• identify biodiversity elements and key biotopes
in the parcel;
• clearcut with key biotopes retained;
• regenerate through various methods.

Plot Description
The demonstration plot is located in Quarter 34 (Compartments 4, 19, 21, and 22) of Gorsky forest district in Strugo-Krasnenskiy Leskhoz. It covers an area of 7.6 hectares. The plot was established in December of 2000. Forest type: Mirtyllus; site type: undulating plain on sandy soils; Site Index: III. The plot consists of 4 compartments.

Poster 1 (1 Mb) >>

	PLOT MAP comments: A, B – test plots with a big nomber of seeds trees

Problem
In accordance with current forest norms, the forest plan for this territory requires that spruce undergrowth should be retained after clear felling. However the plot is located on poor sandy soils, thus it is not possible to establish a high-quality and robust spruce stand. An alternative solution suggested by the project involves replacing the target species from spruce to pine, since in given conditions pine is capable of developing a more productive forest stand. Besides, on sandy soils pine naturally regenerates producing a number of seedlings sufficient for establishing a well-stocked pine stand, provided that a considerable number of seed trees should be left in the compartment after felling, which reduces expenses on planting.

Goal: establish a pine stand through natural regeneration.

Objectives:
• clearcut leaving a big number of pine seed trees;
• provide support for natural regeneration of pine (scarification);
• keep seed trees until young pine growth has formed.

Plot Description
The demonstration plot is located in Quarter 39 (Compartment 33) of Gorsky forest district in Strugo-Krasnenskiy Leskhoz. It covers an area of 3.2 hectares. The plot was established in 2001. Forest type: Vaccinium; site type: undulating plain on sandy soils; Site Index: II.

Poster 2 (1 Mb) >>

	PLOT MAP comments: Strip roads are marked with the dotted line. Watercourse is marked with the solid line. Key biotopes excluded from felling are marked with circles and arrows.

Problem
Current forest norms for thinning operations do not make it possible to accurately determine thinning rate and volume to be removed based on stand characteristics in the individual compartment. Besides, the traditional planning approach is based on the factor of relative density of stands, which requires high qualification from personnel in the process of operation planning and monitoring. An alternative solution suggested by the project involves implementation of thinning operations in accordance with new norms based on models of stand development (thinning schedules).

Goals:
• establish a pine stand with optimal composition and
quality to ensure the maximum value of timber by final
felling;
• utilize to the full the productive capacity of the
compartment.

Objectives:
• plan a system of thinning operations in the forest stand;
• carry out the first thinning.

Plot Description
The demonstration plot is located in Quarter 39 (Compartments 5 and 6) of Gorsky forest district in Strugo-Krasnenskiy Leskhoz. It covers an area of 2.1 hectares. There is a key biotope (a wetted area) with an area of 0.6 ha excluded from the thinning operation. The plot was established in 2000. Forest type: Mirtyllus; site type: undulating plain on sandy soils; Site Index: I; age by the time of first thinning: 42 years.

Poster 3 (1 Mb) >>

	PLOT MAP Comment: the territory of the parcel is shaded.

Problem
The main function assigned to Group I forests is protection. Clear felling is not allowed in Group I forests. One of possible methods to ensure sound forest management in such conditions is to establish multiple-aged spruce stands. Areas where such stands have been established remain forested provided that a system of selective felling has been correctly planned.

Goal: reconstruct a mixed spruce/aspen/birch stand for prospective establishing of a Dauerwald-type stand.

Objectives:
• plan a cycle of operations for conversion
of the stand;
• carry out the first stage of the cycle –
selective felling.

Plot Description
The demonstration plot is located in Quarter 19 (Compartment 43) of Gorsky forest district in Strugo-Krasnenskiy Leskhoz. It presents a strip of forest surrounding a village and belongs to Group I forests. The plot covers an area of 2.2 hectares. The plot was established in 2001. Forest type: Mirtyllus; site type: undulating plain on sandy soils; Site Index: I; age by the time of first felling: 50 years.

Poster 4 (1 Mb) >>

	PLOT MAP Comment: the territory of the parcel is shaded.

Problem
Mixed birch and aspen stands are common in productive soils of Northwestern Russia. Traditional management of such forests involves planting of spruce after clear cutting with 2 or 3 consecutive pre-commercial thinnings, which in 13-15 years results in establishing a spruce and birch stand. The management cost includes expenses on clear cutting, planting, and 2 thinnings. An alternative scheme suggested by the project is based on establishing a spruce stand, provided that there is sufficient spruce undergrowth, in a predominantly aspen stand. The scheme involves selective felling of birch, spruce, and partly aspen in the first storey to reduce the density to 0.4. Remaining aspen trees are “girdled” and dry within the next 5-7 years. Spruce undergrowth begins to vigorously grow and forms a spruce stand. Costs associated with this scheme include expenses on felling, aspen girdling, and, possibly, one thinning.

Goal: form a coniferous stand with predominantly valuable high-quality species to increase economic effect of final felling.

Objectives:
• implement gradual felling in a mixed aspen/birch/spruce stand;
• provide support for young spruce growth to form the main storey.

Plot Description
The demonstration plot is located in Quarter 39 (Compartment 14) of Gorsky forest district in Strugo-Krasnenskiy Leskhoz. The plot covers an area of 2.7 hectares. There is a key biotope with an area of 1.2 ha excluded from felling. The plot was established in 2002. Forest type: Mirtyllus; site type: undulating plain on bouldery sandy loam; Site Index: I; age of deciduous species by the time of felling: 65; age of pine: 80 years.

Poster 5 (1,2 Mb) >>

	PLOT MAP Comment: the territory of the parcel is shaded.

Problem
Thinning operations in naturally regenerated young deciduous stands enable to grow the best quality forest of high commercial value.

Goal: demonstrate efficiency of thinning in young birch stands.

Objective: plan and carry out high intensity pre-commercial thinning.

Plot Description
The demonstration plot is located in Quarter 38 (Compartment 24) of Gorsky forest district in Strugo-Krasnenskiy Leskhoz. It covers an area of 4.8 hectares. The plot was established in 2002. Forest type varies depending on heterogeneous relief and moisture conditions; in most part of the compartment belongs to Mirtyllus forest type; site type: undulating plain on sandy loam; Site Index: I; age by the time of first thinning: 17 years.

Poster 6 (1 Mb) >>

	PLOT MAP Comment: the territory of the parcel is shaded.

Problem
Predominantly deciduous forests on productive soils after clear cutting normally naturally regenerate with high density mixed forests with aspen as a dominant species. Current forest norms require a series repeated low intensity thinnings (thinning rate of 20-30%), which however does not result in the change of species composition. An alternative solution suggested by the project involves a single-step thinning of species co-dominant to the birch to be carried out at high thinning rate. Thinning time is determined by stand characteristics (tree height and crown size) rather than the tree age as stipulated by current norms.

Goal: convert a young deciduous stand into a birch or birch and spruce forest minimizing the management cost.

Objective: plan and carry out high intensity pre-commercial thinning.

Plot Description
The demonstration plot is located in Quarter 14 (Compartment 32) of Gorsky forest district in Strugo-Krasnenskiy Leskhoz. It covers an area of 4.2 hectares. The plot was established in 1998. Forest type: Oxalis; site type: undulating plain on sandy soils; Site Index: I; age by the time of thinning: 8 years. In the compartment there were planted spruce seedlings in depressed condition.

Poster 7 (900 Kb) >>