Aims of the enterprise

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How to balance forestry and biodiversity conservation – A view across Europe

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Zvolen – Multifunctional broadleaved forests in a university forest enterprise of Slovakia

M. Saniga¹, S. Kucbel¹, P. Jaloviar¹, D. Meloun²

¹ Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia

² University Forest Enterprise of Technical University in Zvolen, Slovakia

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< Fig. C 20.1. Landscape of the mountains of Kremnica in the northern part of the University Forest Enterprise Zvolen (Photo: Milan Saniga).

Context, legal frame and ownership structure

The main mission of the University Forest Enter- prise is to provide the objects and infrastructure for the education of forestry students, the research

activities in the various disciplines and the application of innovative approaches in the forestry prac- tice. At the same time, the forests should be man- aged in the way that ensures the providing of wide spectrum of ecosystem services and the production of valuable timber.

0 1,5 3 6 9 12 15km

Slovakia

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Table C 20.1. General information on the forests of the University Forest Enterprise Zvolen.

Total forest area 20 418 ha (all)

9 716 ha (University Forest Enterprise) Irregular group shelterwood, group and single-tree selection systems Main management types small-scale shelterwood system, irregular shelterwood system

Total volume 292 m³/ha

Annual growth 6.5 m³/ha

Annual use 5.4 m³/ha

Deadwood 9.2 m³/ha (standing – 2.8 m³/ha; lying – 6.4 m³/ha)

Altitude 250–1026 m a.s.l.

Ownership state forests

Geology andesite, pyroclastic parent rocks

Protected area (total) Nature reserves – 450.8 ha Nature protection area (Natura 2000) 1329.53 ha

Function of the forests 80 % of the University Forest Enterprise has the status of special purpose forests, 14 % of protection forests, and 6 % are forests with production function

Statement

“Production, ecological and environmental functions are the basis for education, science and society in the University Forest Enterprise Zvolen.”

The University Forest Enterprise (UFE) of the Technical University in Zvolen is located in Zvolen- ská kotlina basin with its forests situated in the geo- graphical units of the mountains of Kremnica, Javorie, and Štiavnica (fig. C 20.1). UFE is an institu- tion with a special purpose. Its aim is to maintain the practical education for study programmes at the Faculty of Forestry of the Technical University in Zvolen. Moreover, it serves as a research laboratory for the departments of the Faculty of Forestry as well as for other departments of the university. UFE is an educational object for close-to-nature silviculture in Slovak Republic. It was founded on 1 Janu- ary, 1958. The original area of 5375 ha was later enlarged to the current 9716 ha. Of this area, 92.8 % is state-owned, 6 % have unknown owners, and 1.2 % is the property of the university. The altitude

of the UFE forests ranges from 250 m to 1026 m, and they have variable geological, climatic, and soil conditions. According to the categories of the For- estry Act of the Slovak Republic, special purpose forests account for 80 % of the area, protection forests account for 14 %, and commercial forests with a primary production function account for 6 %.

Aims of the enterprise

The forests are used for three main purposes: educational, scientific, and commercial. Aside from production, ecological, and environmental functions, there is a specific complex of forest stands around the Sliač Spa which has a designated health function.

Timber/Biomass

Non-timber products

Erosion

Protection

Biodiversity Recreation

Landscape Climate Groundwater

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Fig. C 20.2. Map of the University Forest Enterprise Zvolen.

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Ecological conditions and trees species composition

The average annual temperature in UFE ranges from 4 to 8 °C and total precipitation ranges from 600 to 1000 mm. Specific measurements conducted by a network of biometeorological stations show that certain sites of UFE located at lower altitudes should be considered as deficient regarding the soil water regime during the hot and dry periods (Šulek and Ivan 2018). UFE is divided into the two forest districts of Budča and Sekier.

The tree species composition in UFE is dominated by broadleaved trees. The most abundant is beech (Fagus sylvatica), covering 52 % of the area.

The second most abundant are oaks – sessile oak (Quercus petraea) and Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) that reach the proportion 20 %. Other broadleaved tree species include hornbeam (Carpinus betulus, 8 %), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus, 3 %), and ash (Fraxinus excelsior, 3 %). The most abundant conif- erous species is Norway spruce (Picea abies) with 8 %, followed by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris, 3 %), silver fir (Abies alba, 3 %), and European larch (Larix decidua, 1 %).

Flora and fauna

Because of its location, climatic, and soil conditions, UFE creates a suitable environment for an immense variety of plant and animal species. The southern part is more suitable for thermophilic species of steppe zone that spread from Podunajská nížina Lowland. Here in the National Nature Reserve (NNR) Boky, the steppe zone meets the broadleaved deciduous forest zone. The main habitats include forests, forest-steppes, steppes, meadows, and wet- lands and water areas.

The UFE manages forests in three separate geo- graphical units in the immediate vicinity of the city of Zvolen. All these mountain ranges have a strato- volcanic structure, formed by andesite and pyroclastic parent rocks. Their relief is considerably eroded and denuded. The diverse parent rocks, climatic, and vegetation conditions determines the diversity of plants ranging from thermophile and xenophile species on extremely dry sites, through the communities on nutrient-rich sites, and up to the elements of the montane flora.UFE forests are rich in flora and home to many protected species

including: Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) on the slopes of the steppe NNR Boky; grey-sheathed feather grass (Stipa joannis) on the steppes and rocky hillsides NNR Boky; European feather grass (Stipa pennata subsp. austriaca) rarely on rocky steppes NNR Boky; grass-leaved iris (Iris graminea) on rocky forest-steppe hillsides NNR Boky; rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) abundant on the steppe and forest-steppe hillsides of NNR Boky;

Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium martagon) in broadleaved deciduous humid forests in the locality of Jagerka (fig. C 20.3); yellow monkshood (Aconitum anthora) in Turkey oak forest in close vicinity to Hronská Dúbrava; wolf’s-bane (Aconitum lycoctonum) par- ticularly in NNR Boky; lesser butterfly-orchid (Pla- tanthera bifolia) in broadleaved and mixed forests;

Mahaleb cherry (Prunus mahaleb) on rocky hillsides (Šulek and Ivan 2018).

Regarding the environmental demands, fauna is mostly bound to forests, forest-steppes, meadows, and aquatic habitats. Forest wildlife is mostly represented by red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), and wild boar (Sus scrofa).

Characteristic birds in higher-altitude forests include hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) and west- ern capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) on the northern border of the territory. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most abundant predator. The European badger (Meles meles) occurs only sporadically, and the European wildcat (Felis silvestris), common weasel (Mustela nivalis), and short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) are also rarely seen. As for pro- tected species, 10–20 individuals of brown bear (Ursus arctos) (fig. C 20.4) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) are permanently present in these locations. In recent years, wolves (Canis lupus) have been observed in the northern part of UFE. These obser- vations have found one to two packs consisting of three to five individuals, as well as one to two lone wolves. There are a larger number of protected bird species present in the area. Thermophilic spe- cies, such as common rock thrush (Monticola sax- atilis) can be found in the southern part of Krem- nické Mountains. Higher altitudes of the northern part are home to mountain species, such as the spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes). Rare species, like the lesser spotted eagle (Aquila poma- rina), Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), common raven (Corvus corax), black stork (Ciconia nigra), and others are also present. Some of the rarely seen

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Fig. C 20.3. Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium martagon). Location: Jagerka (Photo: Milan Saniga).

Fig. C 20.4. Brown bear (Ursus arctos) (Photo: Tibor Pataky).

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species of reptiles occur on southern parts of rocky hillsides in the valley of the River Hron. These include the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis), green lizard (Lacerta viridis), Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus), and European adder (Vipera berus) (Šulek and Ivan 2018).

Nature Reserves

There are two National Nature Reserves (NNR) and one Nature Reserve (NR) located in different environmental conditions that serve especially for the teaching of environmental science:

– NNR Boky – vegetation zone of oaks – thermo and xerophilous communities (147.09 ha);

– NNR Mláčik – vegetation zone of fir and beech (147.2 ha);

– NR Prosisko – vegetation zone of beech and oak with the pre-glacial relict species Geum ternatum (20.8 ha).

NNR Mláčik was established in 1982 with the aim to protect and conserve the fir–beech forest community with the occurrence of common alder. The most abundant tree species in the forest stands of the reserve is beech (45.5 % of the NNR area). Other frequently occurring species include silver fir (24.2 %), ash (15 %), sycamore (8.3 %), Norway spruce (6.2 %). Mountain elm (Ulmus glabra), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and common alder (Alnus glutinosa) are also present.

The upper layer of forest stands is formed by beech and silver fir with an average age of 150–180 years. The oldest silver fir is about 205 years old.

Mixing of tree species occurs on various levels from individual and group to areal. The middle layer is dominated by ash, beech and sycamore. The dominant species of natural regeneration is beech; on favourable sites, regeneration of silver fir and mountain elm is abundant. Many individuals of natural regeneration are damaged by ungulates (browsing). Noble hardwoods (ash, sycamore) and silver fir as well, are damaged by bark stripping by deer, even at older ages. The majority of the reserve is in the mature stage and the initial phase of the

¹ Typological units used in Slovakia are based on Zlatnik’s phytosociological system (Zlatník A., 1953: Fytocenologie lesa, SZN Praha). The forest type groups are defined as a set of plant communities comprising also their environment (geobiocoenoses) and including their developmental stages characterised by their plant species compositions, structures of tree vegetation layers, and having a common set of species in the herbaceous vegetation.

decay stage. Taking into consideration the absence of the other developmental stages and the active management until 1970, NNR Mláčik cannot be considered a secondary ‘primeval forest’ yet. The intention behind the cessation of management in NNR Mláčik was to conserve the original fir–beech forest community leave this to develop naturally (fig. C 20.5).

NNR Boky is situated on a steep slope at the southern border of the Kremnické Mountains, between the villages Budča and Hronská Breznica, district Zvolen (fig. C 20.6). The altitude ranges from 280 to 589 m a.s.l., the mean annual temperature is 6.2–8.0 °C, vegetation period comprises 154–

164 days. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 700 to 820 mm and the number of days with snow cover is 55–80 per year (Bublinec and Pichler 2001). The main tree species are: sessile oak (40 %), Turkey oak (30 %), hornbeam (25 %), and beech (5 %). The reserve is situated at the edge of the dis- tribution of Turkey oak. The occurrence of Turkey oak at different localities and with different admix- tures of other tree species allows us to study its ecology and increment trends. The obtained knowl- edge can be applied in management of Turkey oak forest stands in southern Slovakia (Magic 1968).

The forest stands in the reserve belong to the oak (1.), beech–oak (2.) and oak–beech (3.) altitudinal vegetation zones and to four forest type groups (FTG) and five forest types (FT). The most frequent FTG is Fageto-Quercetum (53 %), followed by Cor- neto-Quercetum (32 %). Areas of Tilieto-Aceretum (13 %) are present in valleys. There are also areas of Querceto-Fagetum tiliosum (2 %)¹ (Hančinský 1972).

There is a long tradition of building memorials to distinguished personalities who have contrib- uted to the development of forestry and forest science in Slovakia (fig. C 20.7).

Economy

In 2018, 55 678 m³ of wood was harvested at UFE (Ivan 2018). The proportion of softwood was 8614 m³ (15.5 %). Hardwood accounted for 47 064 m³ (84.5 %).

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Timber cutting and extraction was carried out by contractors (69.1 %) or by UFE workers (30.9 %). The annual income from timber sales in 2018 amounted to 3 705 738 €, the income from the sale of seedlings was 31 101 €, and the income from hunting was 47 130 €. Fishing revenues amounted to 2862 € and honey sales were 304 €. In 2018, the total annual income reached 3 787 135 €. The structure of total annual costs (3 389 156 €) included the costs of cutting and extracting timber (51.5 %), administration costs (29.4 %), maintenance and development of infrastructure (especially forest roads – 10.1 %), costs of production of planting material (2 %), tending of young stands (3.9 %), and protection of forest stands (3 %). Over the next decade (2019–2028), timber cutting will decrease by 18–20 %. The proportion of natural regeneration will increase to 85 %. The costs of cutting and extraction of timber are expected to increase, as is the income from selling timber.

Silviculture

The composition of the UFE forests is dominated by native tree species and this means that natural processes can be used to ensure the ecological stability of the forest. The basis of forest management is small-scale shelterwood system.

The predominant tree species is the beech (51.6 %) along with sessile oak (16.2 %) and Turkey oak (3.3 %). This means the stands are stable and there is potential for targeting diameter and height differentiation and increasing production of high value timber trees. Both targets can be achieved by consistent application of close-to-nature forestry.

For this purpose, a new silvicultural concept of so-called ‘mosaic’ stands is being developed and applied in the forest stands of UFE (fig. C 20.8).

The mosaic structure of forest stands under- stands the forest as ecosystem, including all of its functions. The aim of the management is to make optimal use of natural processes and the ecological characteristics of the dominant tree species (i. e.

beech, oak). This forest will consistently be able to perform the required functions (Saniga 2010).

Beech is supposed to play a stabilising role in the forests of Slovakia in the future in connection with climate change.

This nature-based management system was created on the basis of research on broadleaved vir- gin forests of Slovakia. The system uses the develop-

Fig. C 20.5. Structure of the forests in NNR Mláčik (Photo:

Milan Saniga).

Fig. C 20.7. Memorial to Prof. Štefan Korpeľ, the key figure behind the promotion of close-to-nature silviculture in Slovakia (Photo: Milan Saniga).

Fig. C 20.6. Structure of the forests in NNR Boky (Photo:

Milan Saniga).

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mental stages of beech and oak primeval forests as a model for the management of stands. An exam- ple is the ProSilva demonstration object – mixed stands with dominant sessile oak that are concen- trated in the locality of Kremenný potok (102.6 ha) (fig. C 20.9). The structure of these forest stands represents different phases of conversion of forest management according to age-classes into forest management according to diameter classes. This complex serves mainly for educational purposes for students of the Faculty of Forestry and forest practitioners.

Mosaic structure of broadleaved stands with dominant of beech include the ProSilva demonstration represented by stands 585b, 513, and 515 (26.5 ha) (fig. C 20.10).

Conclusion

The mosaic concept of forest stands considers the forest as an ecosystem including all its functions. It aims to form a forest that can deliver the functions in perpetuity through optimal utilisation of natural resources while taking the ecological requirements of tree species into consideration (permanent forest). The essential and dominant tree species of UFE is beech, which will be, considering expected climate change, a stabilising tree species in Slovakian forests (where it is the most abundant species) in the future. The UFE forests cross five altitudinal vegetation zones, and combined with good accessi- bility to the forests, this means that a variety if silvicultural methods are suitable for achieving the desired tree species composition. The small-scale shelterwood system is the main silvicultural method used; using optimum timing and extraction Fig. C 20.8. Model of value increment management for beech mosaic stands (Saniga 2010).

40 m

1–30

40 m

61–90 40 m

31–60

40 m

91–120

40 m

31–60

50 m

Age (years)

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Fig. C 20.9. Mosaic structure with a dominant representation of oak, stand 584 (Photo: Milan Saniga).

Fig. C 20.10. Mosaic oak–beech stand 585b (Photo: Milan Saniga).

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methods, this system allows maximum utilisation of natural processes in forest ecosystems as well as achieving the aim of high ecological stability.

Besides this silvicultural system, the concept of mosaic stands is also gradually being applied. The principal target of forestry activities under the conditions of the UFE is an active application of the principles of silviculture based on natural processes.

Professional employees of the enterprise, in close cooperation with the teachers and scientists from the Faculty of Forestry, directly participate in the preparation of decennial forest management plans to support the application of shelterwood and selection silvicultural systems along with maximum utilisation of the natural potential of stands of native tree species (fig. C 20.11). Through an optimum utilisation of natural forces and ecological laws, this forest management strategy strives to form the forest in such a way, that it will fulfil all required functions in perpetuity.

Final statement

The UFE of the Technical University in Zvolen with its tree species composition can be used as a model for the management of broadleaf-dominated forest stands in Slovakia. Silvicultural systems used in forests located in UFE are based on the principles of close-to-nature management and serve as a natural laboratory not only for students but also for forestry practitioners (fig. C 20.12).

Fig. C 20.11. Beech stand with selection structure in University Forest Enterprise TU Zvolen (Photo: Milan Saniga).

Fig. C 20.12. Excursion for forestry practitioners (Photo:

Peter Gogola).

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References

Bublinec, E.; Pichler, V. (eds), 2001: Slovenské pralesy diverzita a ochrana [Slovak primeval forests, diversity and protection]. Zvolen: Ústav ekológie lesa SAV. 200 p.

Hančinský, L., 1972: Lesné typy Slovenska [Forest types in Slovakia]. Bratislava: Príroda. 307 p.

Ivan, Ľ., 2018: Správa o výsledkoch hospodárenia Vysokoškolského lesníckeho podniku TU Zvolen za rok 2018. [Report on UFE economic results for 2018]. TU Zvolen. 59 p.

Šulek, J.; Ivan, Ľ. (eds), 2018: Vysokoškolský lesnícky pod- nik Technickej univerzity vo Zvolene. [University Forest Enterprise Zvolen]. Vydavateľstvo TU Zvolen. 98 p.

Magic, D., 1968: Chránené územie Boky pri Budči [Pro- tected area Boky near Budča]. Československá ochrana prírody 6: 303–309.

Saniga, M., 2010: Pestovanie lesa [Silviculture]. Vyda- vateľstvo TU Zvolen. 328 p.