Silviculture in the function of sustainable development

Abstract

Forest cultivation is a scientific and basic professional discipline that deals with natural regeneration, care, reclamation and raising of new forests with the aim of optimal and permanent fulfillment of ecological, social and economic functions of forests. The effects of cultivation measures have not been fully explored in the context of sustainability and can often be contradictory because some cultivation measures can be very useful for sustainable productivity and forest quality but are not good enough for habitat conservation or other forest services. The complexity of forest cultivation arises as a consequence of the heterogeneity of forest ecosystems in terms of ecological conditions, and bioecological characteristics of species, resulting in different structural forms that affect their sustainability and stability. As a consequence of natural disturbances that affect the reaction and change of ecological and structural characteristics of forests, alternative silvicultural systems have emerged which, in the context of the modern concept of sustainability, are based on growing mixed forests, complex structures dominated by indigenous tree species. One of the important factors of the biological component and the most important indicators of forest naturalness is natural regeneration, which continues the natural sustainability of forests. Over the last few decades, ecologically based strategies have been developed in forestry aimed at increasing the resilience of forests after disturbances, which facilitate return to the previous state, such as the nature of close forest cultivation, forestry based on natural disturbances and in modern conditions forest cultivation that focuses on understanding forests as complex adaptive ecosystems. In addition to traditional forestry, the role of forest cultivation is particularly important for increasing biomass production as a renewable energy source, preserving forest biodiversity and mitigating the negative effects of global warming. Multipurpose forestry and new efforts pose an important task to forestry, which involves ensuring a balance between the various benefits of the forest and production opportunities while preserving each forest ecosystem. According to the forest management plans in the Republika Srpska, a group-selection management system is most often prescribed, and very rarely in pure beech and oak forests, the application of a group management system. Management systems based on selective felling are suitable for use in forests where the main tree species is eaten. Pure beech stands in Republika Srpska are very heterogeneous in terms of structure and have great variability in terms of production possibilities. In terms of natural regeneration of pure beech forests that are structurally simultaneous, the most favorable are fertile fellings, and in the case of diverse forests, stable and group selective felling. Mixed beech and fir forests with spruce are the most important commercial forests in the Republic of Srpska. The most favorable management system for these forests is the application of group-selective management, where in cases of greater need for fir regeneration, the initial nucleus can be smaller (1–3 ares), and for spruce regeneration larger 3 – 5 ares. One of the most significant problems of sessile oak forest management is the increasingly intensive drying process, the beginning of which was established at the end of the 19th century. Climate changes have the greatest impact on the decay of sessile forests, followed by pathogenic organisms and defoliators. To overcome the problem of management in sessile forests endangered by the drying process, breeding measures for forest regeneration by natural and artificial interventions are necessary, as well as care measures based on breeding and reclamation principles. The intensity of pine forest management in the Republic of Srpska is very low, especially in black pine forests, due to the reduced demand for its assortments. Pine forest management systems are very different and can be apply a system of group felling management, management of fertilization fellings on large areas, a system of free group management as well as reforestation by the method of reserve trees (reserves). Prerequisites for successful cultivation of artificially established stands include harmonization of bioecological relations of tree species from which the stands were established according to habitat conditions. Forest cultures are often exposed to various negative influences of factors of biotic and abiotic nature, fires but also strong competition of autochthonous vegetation, especially in cases of direct conversion when their survival and further development is questioned, where the length of the patrol is not always planned. The role and importance of special purpose forestry is reflected, among other things, in ensuring stability, sustainable development and preserving the biodiversity of forest ecosystems. Cultivation of forest crops for special purposes, the so-called special crops, ie crops and plantations of highyielding and fast-growing tree species, lingnicultures and energy plantations has a special importance for the production of wood biomass as a renewable energy source. These crops are most often established with selected planting material on lands with high production potential, and are grown in a short rotation with the application of intensive silvicultural measures. Natural forests are from the silvicultural point of view, models that need to be strived for when managing forests. The aim is to use the experiences on the structure, dynamics of development and biology of forests to a certain extent in the practice of forestmanagement, especially in the direction of increasing production, preserving naturalness, biodiversity and genetic variability, and sustainable forest development. The basic principles of special purpose forest cultivation are aimed at creating the so-called "Functional type of forest" of such composition, assembly and structure which, among other things, provides positive effects in accordance with the defined basic functions and purpose of forests. Modern technology, innovations and instruments in forestry are increasingly used in data collection, and their processing and analysis using new software allows the development of numerous models for forestry purposes. Models in silviculture can be used in two ways, from the user's perspective, which requires operational models applicable in forest management, and from the perspective of a researcher who creates models that require an understanding of the benefits and nfrom a breeding point of view, models that need to be strived for in forest management. The aim is to use the experiences on the structure, dynamics of development and biology of forests to a certain extent in the practice of forest management, especially in the direction of increasing production, preserving naturalness, biodiversity and genetic variability, and sustainable forest development. The basic principles of special purpose forest cultivation are aimed at creating the so-called "Functional type of forest" of such composition, assembly and structure which, among other things, provides positive effects in accordance with the defined basic functions and purpose of forests. Modern technology, innovations and instruments in forestry are increasingly used in data collection, and their processing and analysis using new software allows the development of numerous models for forestry purposes. Models in silviculture can be used in two ways, from a user perspective, requiring operational models applicable to forest management, and from the perspective of a researcher creating models requiring an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of such models, to identify further model development needs.