Condition of pine stands in the recreational and health-improving forests in Left-Bank Polissia

Abstract

Introduction

In the past years, considerable information from Europe and North America has been accumulated about recreational and health-improving forests. In Ukraine, several studies were devoted to this topic. However, much less is known about the resources of these forests, which limits their effective use. Therefore, the assessment of stand characteristics of recreational and health-improving forests of various natural zones and the estimation of the extent to which the forests use the forest site capacity are urgent issues.

Materials and Methods

Forest mensuration characteristics of pine stands in recreational and health-improving forests in Left-Bank Polissia were analyzed based on the materials of the database “Forest Fund of Ukraine” of the Ukrainian State Forest Management Planning Association Ukrderzhlisproekt (as of 2017). The effectiveness of the use of forest site capacity was assessed by comparing the stocks of modal pine stands with those of highly productive stands.

Results

The area of pine stands in recreational and health-improving forests of the Left-Bank Polissia is about 47,000 hectares. Among the pine forests, stands of artificial origin predominate, covering 75% of the total area. The stock of these stands is estimated at 11.5 million m³. The proportion of pine stands belonging to forest areas in green zones around settlements (forestry part) is the largest and amounts to 61%. The productivity of natural stands is somewhat higher than that of artificial ones. This is primarily due to their higher average age. In general, among all studied pine forests, regardless of origin, the largest stock (345 m³·ha^-1) was recorded for pine stands within the forest areas in green zones around settlements (forestry part), and the smallest one (246 m³·ha^-1) for pine stands belonging to forest areas within cities, towns, and other settlements.

Modal pine stands lag behind highly productive stands in all age classes. For example, at the age of 100, the difference in stock between these stands is 29%.

The level of use of forest site capacity by modal pine stands ranged from 40% (at the age of 20) to 74% (at the age of 90–100) in comparison with local highly productive stands. In general, the weighted average value of the use of forest site capacity is relatively low and amounts to 67%.

Conclusions

The conditions of the studied region are generally favorable for the successful growth and development of pine stands with recreational and health-improving functions. This is evidenced by the significant predominance of pine trees that grow according to the first and higher site classes and have a relative density of stockings of 0.7–0.8. A decrease in the relative density of stocking for pine stands after reaching 80–90 years of age was revealed, regardless of location.

The weighted average values of the use of forest site capacity by modal pine stands in the forest areas in green zones in Left-Bank Polissia are relatively low and amount to 67%, compared to local highly productive stands.

6 Figs., 7 Tables, 14 Refs.