IMPACT OF FOREST MANAGEMENT HISTORY ON THE STATE OF FORESTS IN RELATION TO NATURAL FOREST SUCCESSION - COMPARATIVE-STUDY, NORTH KARELIA, FINLAND VS REPUBLIC OF KARELIA, RUSSIAN-FEDERATION
J. Uuttera et al., IMPACT OF FOREST MANAGEMENT HISTORY ON THE STATE OF FORESTS IN RELATION TO NATURAL FOREST SUCCESSION - COMPARATIVE-STUDY, NORTH KARELIA, FINLAND VS REPUBLIC OF KARELIA, RUSSIAN-FEDERATION, Forest ecology and management, 83(1-2), 1996, pp. 71-85
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the recent hist
ory of forest management on the state and structure of forests. Compar
isons were made between test areas in the south-eastern part of North
Karelia, Finland, and the western part of the Republic of Karelia, Rus
sian Federation. The test areas are located in the same climatic regio
n, but their history of forest management has been considerably differ
ent during the past 50 years. They therefore also provide possibilitie
s for wider international observations. The total biodiversity of a la
rge forest area consists of the existence and area distribution of the
forest succession stages. Within these stages the stand structure ref
lects the processes of the small natural vegetation succession cycle o
f boreal coniferous forests. Considering the factors that maintain pot
ential forest biodiversity, it is clearly seen that the forests in the
Republic of Karelia are in a more natural state than those of North K
arelia. However, considering the natural fire ecology of the region, b
oth test areas have a paucity of old forests. When examining the stand
characteristics reflecting the small succession cycle within habitats
, the forests in the Republic of Karelia have more of the crucial fact
ors typical of species classified as threatened in Finland. If mimicki
ng the natural dynamics of boreal coniferous forests is taken as a goa
l of forest management, the desired habitat diversity can be achieved
only by maintaining all stages of the large vegetation succession cycl
e. Within the succession stages of young, middle-aged and mature stand
s, structural variation and variation of tree species composition shou
ld be increased. This can be achieved by means of forest management an
d forestry operations, but these policies, on the other hand, may decr
ease wood production.