Development of a floodplain Quercus robur forest reserve: abandonment and artifical gaps
Abstract
Goal of forest reserves is to provide opportunity for scientific study of natural forest dynamic processes. Definition of „natural forest” is especially difficult in floodplains, because they have been shaped by humans for millennia. Today’s best stands are of anthropogenic origin. Does the Bükkhát forest reserve (Southern Hungary) develop towards a more natural state after ten years of abandonment or experimental gap regeneration? In abandoned core areas trees began to fall, forming a lot of deadwood; in natural gaps no regeneration of Quercus robur occurs; under the closed canopy a thick second layer of Acer campestre and Ulmus species has been formed. Some processes – e.g. spontaneous gaps: more diverse age distribution, more open forest; less Quercus robur, more other tree species – points towards more naturalness; but the lack of regeneration of Quercus robur – due to excessively high game population, poor acorn production of middle-aged trees and drying out of the site – is a serious problem. Artifical gaps in the buffer zone create a more open and diverse structure; but because of too big gaps (up to 0.6 ha) and intensive forests cultivation this experimental regeneration cannot be considered natural. Without harmonizing forestry and game management there is no possibility to create a (near)natural forest.
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