ASSESMENT OF MAINTENANCE OF TREE STAND IN NATURE RESERVE "SKARPA WIŚLICKA" IN SILESIAN FOOTHILLS

• Main Authors: Damian Chmura, Sebstian Szpyrka, Tomasz Beczała
• Format: Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE) 2017-04-01
• Series: Inżynieria Ekologiczna
• Subjects: lower level of protection; nature monument; old trees; Cieszyn Foothills
• Online Access: http://www.journalssystem.com/ie/Ocena-stanu-zachowania-drzewostanu-w-rezerwacie-przyrody-Skarpa-Wislicka-na-Pogorzu-Slaskim,68318,0,2.html
• ISSN: 2081-139X; 2392-0629

The forest “Skarpa Wiślicka” is nature reserve that protects remnants of former primevail forest in the territory of Wiślica. It also is included in NATURA 2000 area (Cieszyńskie Źródła Tufowe code PLH240001). The aim of the present study was to valorization of treestand of this protected object. Amongst 19 observed tree species, 11 were studied in detail (232 randomly selected individuals). Dendrometry measurements, health tree were assessed. The attention was paid to presence of coarse woody debris as well. For the purpose of the latter decomposition stage was characterized. The studies demonstrated that as many as 69 individuals scored size for nature monuments (circumference and diameter at breast height). The elm Ulmus glabra prevailed (25 individuals have higher value than 220 cm of circumference) and the least abundant is ash Fraxinus excelsior (2 higher than 250 cm). More than 50% of trees were characterized by damages i.e. losses of bark, dried or broken branches. Amount of coarse woody debris is not enough. Amongst logs I degree of decomposition dominated (27 logs), whereas weighted mean is 2.93 in 8-degree scale. To sum up it can be concluded that the number of trees that deserve the protection of the rank of a natural monument is very high. It reflects favorable conditions of development of forest communities in the territory of “Skarpa Wiślicka”. While relatively small amount of dead wood and low mean degree of decomposition indicates the impact of forest management i.e. frequent removal of dead wood.