Impact of regeneration method on stand structure prior to first thinning. Comparative study north Karelia, Finland vs. Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation

Abstract

Comparisons were made between artificially and naturally regenerated stands in the SE part of N Karelia, Finland, and naturally regenerated stands in the W parts of the Republic of Karelia, Russian Federation. When forests are artificially regenerated the stand structure includes less variation when compared with the stands naturally regenerated. Differences between the regeneration methods are clearer the more fertile the forest site is. The effect of silvicultural operations has disappeared by the time of first thinning, although it appears to have a permanent effect on the dynamics of the tree species within a stand. -from Authors