Analysis of natural regeneration of Scots pine forest in the high Campine after a fire

Abstract

The  study deals with the spontaneous resettlement of a fire area, after  destruction of 600 ha Scots pine forest. The following items have been  examined in particular: the composition of the tree species, the duration of  the regeneration period, the influence of the parent stand, the exposition,  the slope, the treatment, the fire regime and the social differentiation.      The resettlement took place very quickly and over a very short period.  Birch and Scots pine take up 95 % of the stem number. The regeneration result  is precarious, yet mostly good. The parent stand is favourable both to seed  supply and to microclimate, but only over a short distance. The Scots pine  prefers more open and dry areas, whereas birch needs more humidity.     Practice has shown that natural regeneration of Scots pine stands is  possible. The forest treatment, however, is very important. It determines not  only the immediate result of the regeneration, but also the composition and  the structure of the future stand.