Naslov
Developing models of assessing tree, forest and forest ecosystem vitality for the needs of practical forestry

Autori
Tikvić, Ivica ; Zečić, Željko

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Skup
INTECOL 2013

Mjesto i datum
London, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo, 18.08.2013. - 23.08.2013

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
forest ecosystems; tree vitality; stand vitality; forest ecosystem vitality; adaptive management of forest ecosystem

Sažetak
Sustainable management with forest ecosystems is based on forest ecosystem stability, or their biological and ecological balance. Sustainable management aims to achieve optimal production in forest ecosystems, or in other words, long-term production of large amounts of high quality wood mass and other forest products, as well as long term fulfilment of other forest functions. In order to achieve these goals, it is necessary to maintain the optimal condition of trees, stands and the entire forest ecosystem. The natural balance of different forest ecosystem areas has recently been increasingly disturbed by numerous adverse impacts. Consequently, the stability and functioning of forest ecosystems, as well as their production and other functions, have been jeopardized. Expectedly, this exerts a negative effect on forest ecosystem management and requires that ecosystems adjust to changes. These changes include, for example, extensive tree damage, massive tree dieback, windthrow, pest attacks and others. The production and provision of different forest functions depend primarily on tree condition. Until recently, the condition of a tree was generally assessed on the basis of crown defoliation, changes in the tree crown colour and tree damage. However, since these indicators did not comprise all the indicators of tree condition that affect the production and provision of different functions, they were not sufficient to achieve an optimal wood mass production and deal with the disturbed stability of forest ecosystems. The paper proposes a model of tree vitality assessment based on morphological indicators of the tree condition. Trees with lessened vitality have a lessened ability to produce and provide varied forest functions, depending on the action of different factors on their development. To date, stand production in conditions of the disturbed stability and functioning of forest ecosystems has not been assessed on the basis of their vitality. Stand vitality represents the ability of a stand to optimally perform all life functions in a given site condition, including growth, development, propagation, resilience, adaptability, struggle for survival, longevity, and others. The attainment of life functions of forest trees and the achievement of an optimal production of forest stands depend on the biological balance in forest ecosystems and on the condition of a site. The vitality of forest ecosystems denotes the long-term ability of an ecosystem to realize the main life functions of an organism in a given site. These functions include growth, development, propagation, survival and stability. This is the reason that the assessment of forest ecosystem vitality takes into account the condition of organisms and the condition of ecological factors contributing to forest ecosystem production and the provision of other forest functions. Disturbances in the condition of organisms and the condition of sites in forest ecosystems lessen the vitality of these ecosystems. The paper analyzes past approaches to determining tree and forest vitality and proposes models of assessing tree, stand and ecosystem vitality for the needs of adaptive management of forest ecosystems.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Šumarstvo

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