High densities of Cervidae effect to forest regeneration in mixed broadleaf forest in south part of Lithuania

• Published in: AGROFOR
• Main Authors: Sabalinkienė, Gintarė, Šimkevičius, Kastytis, Pėtelis, Kęstutis, Stankevičiūtė, Jolanta, Talijūnas, Dovydas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Cervids; afforestation; damage to forest regeneration; hunting pressure; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://asu.lvb.lt/ASU:ELABAPDB20829934&prefLang=en_US

The abundance of Cervidae species is increasing in Lithuania as well as in the whole Baltic region. High densities of forest ruminants: Moose (Alces alces), Red deer (Cervus elaphus), Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), Fallow deer (Dama dama) and European bison (Bison bonasus) cause a significant damage both to natural forest regeneration and afforestation. Strong negative impact on forest regeneration lead to increased costs of forest regeneration, formation and maintenance. Thus, the balance among intensive silviculture and big game management must be found for sustainable use of environment recourses. In our study, we observed the influence of cervids density increment to natural forest regeneration in mixed broadleaf forest, which is located near the Zuvintas strict reserve, and in landscape point of view connected with other forest arrays by natural migration corridors. We found that natural regenerated forest understory is hardly damaged as well as cultural forest plantations. Thus, hunting pressure in our research area is obviously too low and the current abundance of wild ruminants will not allow the economically effective intensive silviculture. After investigation we found a steady Cervidae abundance, not exceeding the highest optimal densities. Cervid winter pasture quality is relatively good – economically and browsing very intensively did not effect ecologically important tree species regeneration in forest understory. However, damage degree to forest regeneration in our observed stands was very high. Natural as well as artificial forest regeneration is rather difficult, thus cervid densities should be reduced of expensive protection tools should be implemented in forest regeneration stands.