Commarmot, B.; Brändli, U.-B.; Hamor, F.; Lavnyy, V. (eds) 2013:
Birmensdorf, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL; L'viv, Ukrainian National Forestry University; Rakhiv, Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. 69 pp.
CHF 10.-
Abstract
International conventions and resolutions on biological diversity, sustainable forest management and climate change have led in recent decades to an increasing interest in having reference values from forests undisturbed by man. An outstanding example of such an undisturbed forest is the primeval forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh within the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine). It is approximately 9000 ha (90 km2) in area and is thought to be the largest primeval forest of almost pure European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). In 2010, the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, the Ukrainian National Forestry University UNFU and the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve CBR carried out a sampling inventory of the Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh forest (survey perimeter 10?282 ha) to obtain representative data for the main forest parameters. Given the remoteness of the area, long walking distances and difficult terrain, careful planning and organisation were required, as well as the logistic support of the local forest service. The field work was carried out by six mixed teams of Swiss and Ukrainian students and scientists, guided by three survey leaders from Switzerland and Ukraine. Two teams together shared a leader and a cook, and lived in decentralized camps, which were moved every week to minimize the walking needed to reach the sample plots. The collaboration between the Ukrainians and Swiss worked very well and was enriching for both sides. During the two-month sampling period, the teams assessed 314 sample plots laid out on a systematic grid. All living and standing dead trees = 6 cm DBH (diameter at 1.3 m above ground) within the 500 m2 circle plots were measured and assessed for features relevant for biodiversity. Lying deadwood was assessed with line-intersect sampling (3 lines each 15 m long per plot), and small trees (= 10 cm height and
Keywords
Fagus sylvatica, virgin forest, old-growth forest, forest structure, deadwood, reference values, Carpathian Biosphere Reserve