Bulletin of Forestry Science / Volume 5 / Issue 1 / Pages 85-99
previous article | next article

Gap cutting and its effects on the understory vegetation in the pedunculate oak-hornbeam forests of Szatmár-Bereg Plain (NE Hungary)

Árpád Szalacsi, Szilvia Veres & Gergely Király

Correspondence

Abstract

Lowland oak-hornbeam forests are one of the important sites of quality oak wood production. Consequently, this habitat has become a major conflict point between forest management and nature conservation in Hungary over the past 20 years. In order to develop a regeneration method based on natural processes, we tested the impacts of gap regeneration cuttings in three compartments in the Szatmár-Bereg Plain (NE Hungary). During the regeneration process, we found an insignificant number of invasive weeds in the gaps. Forest herbs were represented nearly uniformly in the gap parts variably exposed to the sun; the cover of native weed species was significantly higher in the central part of the gaps. Mixed tree species (especially hornbeam) have shown great vitality in the gaps. Thus, in order to ensure the natural regeneration of the pedunculate oak, protection against game damage and proper management are indispensable. Based on our observations, a recommended minimal starting gap size in lowland hornbeam-oak forests is 0.15 hectares. After they are created, further expansion of the gaps is necessary after 4-5 years. The final restoration subdivision (approx. 2 ha) can be reached in 2 steps within a span of 8-10 years. The forests created in this way are mixed and are of an appropriate vertical and horizontal structure.

Keywords: Great Hungarian Plain, pedunculate oak, natural regeneration, understory vegetation, nature conservation