REPORT ON STUDY: IMPLEMENTATION OF SOME THINNING MODELS IN RESTORED OAK FORESTS.

By Haki Kola and Janaq Male

1. Introduction.

During the transfer process of the forests and pastures in use to the communes, oak forests compose the majority of the forest areas.

The data resulting from the management plans it is observed that 80% of the oak forests transferred to the communes belong to the first age class (1-10 years) and to coppices regime. This situation is coming of the massive damage of oak forests at the beginning of the years ‘90.

After the completion of the transfer process that started in 1996, due to the forestry project support, one of the main achievements is the rehabilitation of the greatest part of degraded oak forests as a consequence of their protection by the users themselves as well as the interventions done with the forestry project investments.

Actually, the rehabilitated oak forests need thinning interventions. Right now, these interventions are applied in the oak forests at all communes involved in the forestry project and especially in the communes Ulez, Baz, Kurdari, Lis, Grekan, Melan, Gjorice, Bucimas, Golaj etc. According to their development phase, in these areas is being implemented the traditional method of thinning, cutting 15-25% of the number of trees.

This experience shows that this technique not always fulfills the objectives defined for multi-uses of communal forests related to the needs of community such as providing of fodder, grazing, fire wood, poles, kindling, construction timber and, of course environmental services.

Taking into consideration the very good state of the oak forests in many communes, during the field visit of World Bank Mission on May 2003 in Grekan commune (Elbasan district), was recommended to apply various thinning techniques aiming to estimate their effects on the further forest progress as well the economic advantages resulting from thinning for communities. These very well developed oak forests of 800 ha in Grekan commune, are as the result of the clear-cutting and thinning operations done during the years 1998-200 funded by FP and implemented by forest Association.

PMU in cooperation with Regional Directorate and DFS of Elbasan, commune Grekan and forests Association, undertook a study to apply new techniques of thinning in some sample plots of this area by using different percentages (intensity) of cutting of the trees, aiming to leave that number of trees per 1 hectare, that the stands (forests) have in the maturity a ge.

2. Objective

The objective of this study is to create various models on the treatment of oak forests in order to provide their sustainable management and more incomes for local communities.

3. Purpose

-To determine the best model (technique) on the oak forest thinning.

-To stimulate the future trees so as to achieve the main stand.

-To improve ecologic conditions (light, soil and water) for a better development of under-store forest and vegetation cover, so as to fulfill the livestock demands for grazing.

-To create conditions for harvesting of the wood material in order to provide economic profits for local communities.

-Estimation of the annual increment of the improved forests.

-To create conditions for the conversion of coppices to high forests.

4. Methodology.

•  Selection of communes .

The implementation of various models (techniques) of thinning in the new oak forests at the beginning will be implemented in the commune of Grekan of Elbasani district and later on, in the communes of Baz and Kurdari of Mati district. This selection is done on the basis of these criteria:

- Considerable surface of rehabilitated oak forests in these communes,

- Their state is in the stage when thinning interventions are needed.

•  The selection of parcels

The parcels in which these thinning will be applied must have:

-the main specie in the composition of plot to be oak.

-an agreement with Commune and Association.

-the medium diameter of trees to be 6-10cm. The medium height 2-3m.

-deepness of the soil more than 30cm.

-In the commune of Grekan is selected the parcel no.1 with a surface of 30 ha in a medium age 6 years.

4.3. Setting of plots.

In the selected parcels based on the above mentioned criteria, thinning operations are applied in plots with surface of 0.1 ha. The form of these plots is quadrate for the facilitation of monitoring. The plots are fixed on the field with obvious signs. The 4 applied models (techniques) of thinning are described below.

4.3.1. Model 1, (10000 trees per ha).

In the defined plot are left 10,000 trees per 1 ha or following the scheme of about 1x1m. The trees that are left are the best trees or identified as “future trees”, with a bigger diameter and height, while all the other trees within the scheme 1x1m are cut close to the earth surface aiming on their good vegetative regeneration. All the cut trees are amassed and later on are estimated all the products resulting from them like: fodder, poles, fire wood, and kindling. The data are recorded in table 1.

4.3.2. Model 2, (2500 trees per ha).

In the defined surface within the plot are left 2500 trees per 1 ha or following a scheme of about 2 x 2 m. The trees that left are the best trees, defined as “future trees” with a bigger diameter and height, while all the other trees within the scheme 2 x 2 m are cut close to the earth surface, aiming on their good vegetative regeneration. The cut trees are amassed and later on are estimated all the products resulting from them like: fodder, poles, fire wood, and kindling. The data are recorded in table 1.

4.3.3. Model 3, (1000 trees per ha).

In the defined surface within the plot are left 1000 trees per 1 ha or following a scheme of about 3 x 3 m. The next operations are similar and follow the same flow like model 1 and 2. The data are recorded in table 1.

4.3.4. Model 4, (625 trees per ha).

In the defined surface within the plot are left 625 trees per 1 ha or following a scheme of about 4 x 4 m. The next operations are similar and follow the same flow like model 1 and 2.The data are recorded in table 1.

5. Implementation and Monitoring

Implementation of these thinning models are done by the Users Associations of Grekan commune. The specialists of DFS Elbasan, PMU and the specialist of association got the instruction of the members that took part in these works for the technique of thinning, especially on defining the future trees and following of the scheme for every model using demonstrative plots. Monitoring measurement of the product in field is done by specialists of DFS, specialist of association. The methodology and economic evaluation is done by specialists of PMU

Indicators that are monitored:

•  The implementation of the techniques defined as above.

•  Protection of these experimental plots form other interventions.

•  Estimation of forest products resulting from the thinning.

•  Annual increment and its progress through measuring once a year (on September) of the diameter and height of the remaining trees.

•  Development of under store forest and vegetation cover measuring so as to define the biomass growth during one year (June).

6. The first results and their interpretation

6.1 . The Products and economic estimation.

For every sample plots is done the estimation of the forest products; fodder, fire wood , poles and kindling, (see tab.1). For each product is calculated economic incomes based on measured quantity and current fees applied for such products. It is clear that, more incomes of 11384.6 leks ( 108 USD) per 1 ha , belong to model no.4 because of high intensity of cut trees. But this is not yet a determined factor to conclude that this model gives the better incomes, because other observations and measures have to be done during the 5 coming years, so as to define the version that gives the maximum production/incomes.

6.2. Estimation of annual medium growth.

To make the estimation of the medium growth of the stand it is needed (i) the age of stand which is known exactly because clear cutting of this parcel is done in January 1997, so that, the age is 7 years and (ii) total volume per 1ha which based on the measurements done in the version 4 is 56m3. Dividing the volume with the age (56 :7 = 8m3), we find that the annual medium growth for this parcel is 8m3/ha.

c. Monitoring of the future stands (forests).

For the 4 models, the remaining trees make up the stand of the future, which will be monitored continually. It is necessary to define the main indicators of the trees. In that case they are the diameter and the height for every tree. The measurements are done in every model for the diameters and the height of the remaining (future) trees and are registered in another table. This will be repeated each year (on September) for a period of 5 years. In parallel with this, each year will be monitor the progress of under store forest growth (on June).

These data will be the basis for the comparison of results among model and the drawing of conclusions and recommendations.

Tab.1. Data of the thinning experiment in oak forests

Note; Currency, 1usd=105 leks

Mst= meter stereo

Kv= quintal

These study and experimental models are carried out during October 2003

Attached video has general view on different variants of thinning areas in Dumrea forest

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