INFLUENCE OF THINNING INTENSITY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIES COMPOSITION IN OAK-PINE STANDS OF WESTERN POLISSIA

Abstract

This article presents the findings of long-term research conducted on permanent sample plots within oak-pine stands of fresh and moist woodland types growing on oligo-mesotrophic soils. The study includes comprehensive dendrometric and biometric assessments of stand components under varying thinning intensities. The paper presents the results of assessing the stock distribution of pine stands by elementary segments (deciles) within fresh forest sites across different age classes. The paper analysed the influence of thinning intensity on the development of species composition and structural dynamics, with particular emphasis on mixed birch-pine formations under the given site conditions. The author examined the changes in stand composition during the thinning phase. The results indicate that thinning intensity exerts a significant influence on the structural parameters of the growing stock. Typological investigations have shown that the presence of a significant proportion of secondary (derivative) stands in moist and fresh forest sites of the analysed forest districts of the Zarichne Forestry Enterprise reduces the utilisation rate of the typological potential of these site conditions. In most cases, the established stands