TYPES OF LOW DEGRADED FOREST IN THE SUBMEDITERRANEAN REGIONS OF HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

UDK  630*222(497.6)      

Typological classification of low degraded forests in the submediterranean region of Herzegovina has been carried out as a part of the project "The advancement of forest economy in submediterranean and mediterranean regions of Herzegovina" according to the conceptional plan laid out, in detail, in one of the first papers (Ćirić, Stefanović, Drinić, 1971.) on the topic.

Thermophilic forest of pubescent oak downy (Quercus pubescens), bitter oak, oak hungarica (Quercus conferta) in which all degraded stages are included, cover 96,7% or 176,358 ha^*) out of the total area of the low forest and coppices (182.291 ha) (Matić et al. 1971.).

The forests of submediterranean region of Herzegovina are subdivided within regional communities into;

1. basic forest types, and
2. ecological - productional types of forests

The basic forest types are defined by the constituent type according to the species of trees or to the diagnostically important species of shrubs as well as according to other characteristics of stands, in the first place according to the geological foundation and the type of soil. In this respect every existant difference, assumed to be of influence to productivity of a stand, has been taken as a criterion.

The ecological-productional type of forest has been taken to comprise aff the basic types of forests which show approximately the same productive ability as a resuit of various ecological factors and human activities.

Low degraded forests of the submediterranean region of Herzegovina are typologically classified within:

THE REGIONAL COMMUNITY OF PUBESCENT OAK DOWNY (Quercus pubescens)
AND ORIENTAL HORNBEAM (Carpinus orientalis) (VI)

Pubescent oak downy and Oriental hornbeam forests and their
regressive stages (Vl-a)

Degraded low oriental hornbeam forests on terra rossa and organogen mineral black soils on limestone (Vl-a-1);

Degraded low oriental hornbeam and floweiring ash forest on terra rosso and organogen mineral terra rossa (VI-a-2);

Degraded low oriental hornbeam forest with Petteria on organogen mineral brown calcareous black soils on limestone (VI-a-3);

Degraded low oriental hornbeam forest with butcher's broom on organogen mineral black soils on limestone (VI-a-4);

Degraded low oriental hornbeam forest with transition of crock phyllireo (Phyllirea sp.) to coppice on eroded terra rossa on limestone (Vl-a-5);

Degraded low oriental hornbeam forest with Pome granate (Punica granatum) on in a great extent eroded terra rosso on limestone (VI-a-6);

Degraded low oriental hornbeam forest with transition of Christ's thorn to coppice on very eroded terra rossa remained in cracks in limestone (Vl-a-7);

Degraded low orinetal hornbeam forest with transition of dwarf juniper oxycedar to coppice on calcareous stones with shallow eroded terra rosso (VI-a-8);

Degraded low pubescent oak downy and oriental hornbeam forest on brown calcareous block soils and calcareous brown soils (VI-a-9);

Degraded low pubescent oak downy and flowering ash forest on brown calcareous black soils on limestone (VI-a-10);

Degraded low pubescent oak downy forest on terra rossa on limestone (Vl-a-11).

Oak  hungarica (Quercus conferta) forest and its stages (VI— b)

Degraded low oak hungarica forest on deep terra rossa on limestone (VI-b-1);

REGIONAL COMMUNITY OF REED AND FLOWERING ASH FOREST (VII)

Bitter oak forest as high-elevation vegetation belt (VII-a)

Degraded low bitter oak forest on terra rossa and brown calcareous black soil on limestone (VII-a-1);

Hop  hornbeam and flowering ash forests (VII-b)

Degraded low hop hornbeam and flowering ash forest on calcareous black soils (VII-b-l);

Degraded low flowering ash forest on shallow black soils on calcareous blocks (VII-b-2);

Based on analysis of ecological characteristics and approximately similar productive abilities, the basic types of forests are grouped into eight ecological-productional types of forests. The ménagement objectives for the latter as well
as the measures for the aschievement of these objectives have been elaborated in this paper.