Excursions - UNECE



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Thuesday 14 October 2003

Areas with occurrence of close to nature forestry, mostly broadleaved forests

Friday 17 October 2003

Mountainous areas with occurrence of close to nature forestry, mostly coniferous forests and management of gene reserves

Saturday 18 October 2003

Areas with occurrence of close to nature forestry, mostly of mixed forests and natural processes in primeval forests

Mountainous areas with occurrence of close to nature forestry, mostly coniferous forests and management of gene reserves

Friday 17 October 2003

Ecologically the most stable stands occur in spruce and/or coniferous forests. Close to nature management of these forest stands require a high level of professionalism. The excursion route will visit the stands with mostly coniferous stands in the region of Slovenské rudohorie Mts. The excursion will also visit a well–preserved technical attraction, the Čiernohronská forest railway dating from the beginning of the twentieth century (1908).

In mountainous areas of northern Slovakia forest ecosystems with prevalence of coniferous tree species mainly Norway spruce are dominant. Due to the effects of complex injurious anthropogenic agents, a considerable part of them is endangered. Therefore, securing the Norway spruce gene pool of high mountains at the original extent is of great importance, particularly by gene base establishment. The excursion route will be located in the region of the High Tatras Mts. and Low Tatras Mts. and will concentrate on examples of natural, semi–natural and man made mountain forests dominated by conifers. The tour stations will include:

visit to forests of Norway spruce, European larch and silver fir managed using shelterwood and selection systems;

visit to the Inner–Carpathian spruce–larch forests and the alpine tree limit line in the High Tatras

Forests of the Slovak Republic, state enterprise, Banska Bystrica, affiliated forest enterprise Cierny Balog

Affiliated forest enterprise is seated in municipality Cierny Balog. Forest complexes situated here had not provided preconditions for the formation of greater human settlements but on the other side there had been very favourable preconditions for forestry activities. Jozef Dekret Matejovie (1774–1881) a native to Cierny Balog laid the foundations of traditional forestry activities in the 18th century.

The municipality Cierny Balog with population 6000 is situated in relatively wide, long and branched valley of the river Cierny Hron. It is formed of 13 former settlements established by former settlers in the 15th–16th century.

The territory of the affiliated forest enterprise Cierny Balog is located in central part of Slovenske rudohorie Mts. (Veporske hills) and Low Tatra Mts. Its borders are demarcated by well–known dimension figures – in the east by Fabova hola (altitude 1450 m), in the west by Lubietovsky Vepor (1277 m), in the south Klenovsky Vepor (1338 m) and in the north by the border between Chopok and Dumbier. What concerns administrative division this territory is part of Brezno district, smaller part of Banska Bystrica district and very small part also of Detva district.

Climate is mild up to slightly cold with prevailing aspects N, NE, NW, E. Slope of terrain is extreme in some places only at forest district Dumbier and Osrblie.

Geological composition of this territory is quite varied because on major part of the area there occurs gneiss, paragneiss, slates, diorites, granites and andesites (andesite = volcanic origin of rudohorska region), at forest district Osrblie and Dumbier we can find also dolomitic limestone, quartzites as well more precious varieties of rocks and minerals.

Forests are situated on very high quality, deep humic forest soils and their total area is 31 997 ha of that 31 759 ha (99.3%) are state forests. Forest stands have very well preserved character of autochthonous forests. Main tree species is spruce (58%), followed by beech (24%), fir (8%), sycamore maple, ash and hornbeam.

Main watercourses are Cierny Hron, Kamenisty potok, Bystrianka and Hron. The region is rich in water sources.

Standing volume per 1 ha of mature stands is about 600 m3 per 1 ha of total area of forest land resources it is about 297 m3. Average total increment per 1 ha of stand area is 8.3 m3 per year. Average distribution of age classes is relatively balanced, its slight shift towards lower age classes is caused by wind disaster of 8 July 1996, which in 10 minutes damaged planned volume of cut for 20 years at forest district Osrblie and similarly at forest district Hronec. Processing of wood from this disaster represents the volume 874 thousand m3 for the period from July 1996 to the end of 1998. Wind disaster uncovered plot with the area almost 2000 ha which we succeeded to reforests by the year 2001. We had used some methods, especially in regeneration of plots damaged by disaster, which proved well in this situation, and they have been used in whole Slovakia nowadays. We used also for the first time sale of stumpage and strong involvement of private companies working for the enterprise. Since that time the proportion of works on contract forms a considerable part (in felling about 35%, in silviculture slightly less) and still it has been growing.

The enterprise performs annually 1320 ha of tending felling (the proportion of tending felling at the age within 50 years is 80%) and about 700 ha of cleaning. The volume of reforestation fluctuates but despite relatively high volume of cut it reaches only about 130 ha per year thanks to high standing volume per hectare. Natural regeneration as the highest quality way of regeneration reaches 32%. We take it as our successful result that the proportion of the need of repeated reforestation has decreasing tendency for last several years. It is obvious for us that absolutely dominant way of management of our high quality forests is shelterwood system with minimum of clear–felling plots. Our own Nursery centre contributed to high quality regeneration of cut stands. The centre secures the production of necessary number of plants for reforestation. At the same centre there is also central gathering place of venison for our region, which meets strict requirements of the EU. Unfortunately currently it is not used fully due to changed situation at world market.

Affiliated enterprise Cierny Balog is formed of 8 forest user’s units with almost the same names as are the names of forest districts – Osrblie, Hronec, Sihla, Cierny Balog (Forest district Kram), Dobroc, Saling, Michalova and Dumbier. The enterprise has DHS seated in Hronec, MES in Hronec and Brezno, then Nursery centre with gathering place of venison in Michalova, and since June 2002 also Centre of wood production in Michalova where coniferous tree of smaller dimensions is processed into balks and sawn wood. The headquarters of the enterprise is in the municipality Cierny Balog seated in building, which was reconstructed in 1998. Average annual cut is about 172 000 m3 of that about 25% broadleaved timber. More than 70% of coniferous wood reaches the quality of round wood assortments. The enterprises get preferentially progressive means of the management of forests due to its optimal production conditions.

Forest road network on the territory of the forest enterprise is as follows: 6.77 meters of road of 1L category per 1 ha of forest land resources (it means forest roads, penetrated), then 2.07 m of roads of 2L category, 13.89 meters of skidding roads good for skidding not only in season and 16.18 meters of hauling roads.

On the territory of the enterprise there are several categories of protected territories as evidence on the preservation of autochthonous forest ecosystems. They are National Park Low Tatra and National Park Muranska planina, Protected landscape area Polana with Biosphere reserve Dobrocsky primeval forest (awarded by the diploma of the Council of Europe), Klenovsky Vepor, Lubietovsky Vepor, and Hroncecky Grun, nature reserves Havranie rocks, Slatinsky Jarok, Blata and Rosiarka and protected nature formations Havranka, meanders

of Kamenisty brook, Kamenisty brook, waterfalls Spady.

Forests provide favourable conditions with dominating red deer, followed by roe deer, bears, wild boar, wolf, lynx, rarely but permanently also otter. There live also capercaillie, black stork, predatory birds including lesser–spotted eagle and others. Hunting trophies particularly of stag and beasts of prey are among the records for Slovakia. The affiliated enterprise manages overhead hunting grounds Vepor, Vydrovo, Polana, Tri Vody, Gapel and Lesnik. There are also 4 hunters’ associations on its territory put on lease. Watercourses of this area are attractive for fishermen for catching trout and grayling.

High forest coverage and timber quality predetermined this area many years ago for the development of woodcutting and forestry activities. In connection with that as well as exploitation of iron ores also mining industry and iron ore industry developed (for example after the municipality Osrblie there is preserved an iron ore smelting furnace from the 18th century, in Kamenista valley there is a water reservoir Hroncek for timber floating from 1881). In the region of Cierny Balog and Hronec there was for its time the most extensive network of the routes of narrow–gauge forest railroad. We can see a small part of railroad still in use as an attraction in the centre of Cierny Balog. Ciernohronska forest railroad contributed also to the establishment of forestry museum in open air in Vydrovska valley after Cierny Balog. This first forestry open–air museum, being funded and managed up to now by the state enterprise Forests of SR was successful to attract thousands of visitors here.

The enterprise agreed with construction of some official cyclotourist routes. We provide our hunting and recreation facilities also for other interested by means of travel agencies. The enterprise cooperates with municipal and district authorities, with local community associations and other subjects for the development of micro region Cierny Hron especially what concerns promoting forestry, nature protection and their role for the whole country.

Nature trail in Vydrovská valley with eductional tables

1. Wooden entrance gate with writing

Human culture began by cutting forests, however, it can maintain itself only by their protection.

Totem tree has writings on separate branches:

I give you oxygen.

I keep water for you.

I increase air moisture.

I protect soil against water and air erosion.

I absorb dust, noise, I reduce radioactivity.

I give off antibacterial substances.

I provide protection against ozone hole.

I am a home for forest fauna.

I provide wood.

I give you forest fruit.

I am a source of regeneration of your vigor.

I am a symbol of piece, life and hope.

2. Forest Birds

SOME BIRD SPECIES DEPEND ON FOREST ENVIRONMENT AS THEY FOUND THEIR FOOD AND HABITAT THERE. SPECIES DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS DEPENDS MAINLY ON LOCATION, COMPOSITION, AGE AND STRUCTURE OF FOREST WHEREAS THEY ARE THE MOST ABUNDANT REGARDING NUMBER AND SPECIES IN NATURAL FORESTS.

Of singing birds titmice, finches, nuthatches, jays, crossbills and others live here, as well as for example great black woodpecker, tawny owl and also Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) or little owl, of birds of prey buzzards, sparrow hawks and many other species.

The usefulness of birds can be demonstrated also by the fact singing birds consume on the area 1000 hectares almost 10 tons of different insects per year and thus they contribute to the improvement of forest health condition and increasing the resistance and ecological stability of forest ecosystems.

Preservation of trees with birds’ nests including trees with cavities for cavity nesting birds contributes to the protection of birds as well as traditional preparation and placement of different nesting boxes in forest.

Illustrations – Great tit (Parus major), nuthatch (Sitta europaea), jay (Garrulus glandarius),great black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), pygmy owl (Glaucicium passerinum)

Tree–dimensional exhibits: various types of nesting shelter boxes on tree, pole, etc.

3. Wetlands

WETLANDS ARE TERRITORIES WITH MARSHES, FENS OR PEAT BOGS, HUMID MEADOWS, NATURAL FLOWING OR STANDING WATERS INCLUDING WATER STREAMS AND WATER AREAS WITH PONDS AND WATER RESERVOIRS.

Various communities of organisms, which are adapted to permanent or temporary waterlogging, developed in wetlands in the dependence on the location and type of wetland.

Characteristic plants of peat bogs are cotton grasses, rush plants, bog bean, primrose (cowslip), marsh cranberry, carnivorous sundew and butterword as well as some orchid species. Also animal composition is diverse.

In mountain areas alder forests with speckled alder, of willows especially brittle willow and other tree species penetrating from surroundings frequently occur in wetlands. Of plants marsh marigold, speckled dead nettle, butterbur, various sedges and other species are frequent. Wetlands are important hatchery of amphibians.

Ramsar Convention protects wetlands of international importance but also wetlands of regional or local importance must be protected.

Illustrations: – Speckled alder (tree and leaf), Marsh marigold, Butter bur, Mountain wagtail, Brown frog, Carpathian salamander

4. Torrent Control

Check dams are lateral objects in torrent trunks. They are built for two reasons: 1. For catching alluvial deposit which rose by erosion in upper part of the course and watershed. 2. For maintaining high water stage which could cause floods in such regions.

Graphics:

1. Picture of alluvial cone with this text

A visitor of the Cheops pyramid in Egypt wonders how much material had to be transported for its building. It was 2 500 000 m3 of stone while building had lasted for many years. However, in comparison to what rivers are able to move in one year it is like what all.

2. Photo of check dam in Račková dolina valley:

The largest check dam of forest torrent in Slovakia is situated in Račková valley. It was built according to the project of prof. Skatula in 1935. The torrent in Račková valley move annually 0.122 million m3 of sediments.

3. Scheme with text: Profile of check dam

Material: Prof. M. Jakubis, Technical University in Zvolen

Sample was developed by STASMO Company Oravská Polhora – torrent control

3D: Model of torrent control 1 m high on slope trench with seasonal flow. (Project of Faculty of Forestry)

5. Snow ditch

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SNOW DITCH?

It is used for storage of transplants on snow which will lasts–in them till June.

For spring afforestation are used transplants of forest tree species which have to be taken before from the forest nurseries. In case these transplants came in to blossom before planting, they would not established. Therefore they are stored in snow ditch before planting. Snow ditches are filled (saturated) by snow on which the taken transplants are stocked. Coldness in snow ditch causes that biological processes in transplatns are inhibited so they will be planted in time in non–flushed condition. Snow ditches are built from wood or stone so that snow lasted in them as long as possible.

Graphics: Drawings of transplants bunches stocked on snow.

3D: Snow ditch

6. Importance of ants for forest ecosystems

Forest ants of suborder Formica have an extraordinary importance for protection of forest stands, enhancement of diversity and stability of forest ecosystems.

Forest ants are important predators of injurious kinds of forest insects. For existence of fully developed ant–hill (formicary) they must collect 1 kilogram of protein food daily of that up to 85% is made up by insects. By its abundance (10 – 15 million of individual forest ants with a total weight approximately 100 kg can be per one hectare of forest) they are an important regulator of insect occurrence in its neighborhood. In the regions with sufficient number of ants there does not occur an outbreak of dangerous forest pests (e.g. Gypsy moth, leafrolles moths, webspinning sawflies, etc.).

Ants contribute by its activity to improvement of soil aeration and keeping the favor water regime and by that they enhance soil fertility. In addition they enhance food offer for other animals which eat them or feed its cubs by them. Birds get rid of parasites in ant–hill by “cathartic baths”.

Protection of forest ants consists mainly in preserving strong maternal colonies (ants–hills) in logging and skidding timber or in regeneration of its function by saving transfers of nests. Protective coverings for ant–hills are used against natural predators (gallinaceous and woodpeckers birds, badger, wild–boar, bear).

Illustration: Ant–hill (view and section), Ants (Formica rufa) with prey, Ants (Formica rufa) licking honeydew

3D: Protective covering of pyramid shape on a living ant–hill. Source: Educational path Jakub – guide (stop No. 22).

7. How much water does snow catch?

WATER IS THE BASIS OF LIFE. IN CREATION, KEEPING AND PROTECTION OF WATER RESOURCES IN SLOVAKIA, FORESTS HAVE A DECISIVE SIGNIFICANCE. WATER MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS OF FORESTS ARE: INFILTRATION (INFUSION), PERCOLATION, RETARDATION (KEEPING) AND NIVALATION (FOREST IMPACT ON SNOW CONDITIONS). IMPORTANT PHENOMENON OCCURS IN FORESTS – A SURFACE WATER RUNOFF CHANGES THERE ON GROUND RUNOFF. GRADUAL RETARDATION AND INFILTRATION OF WATER PREVENT FLOOD WAVES. FORESTS INFLUENCE POSITIVELY CLEANNESS, QUALITY AND HYGIENE OF WATER. TOTAL VOLUME OF WATER KEPT IN FOREST SOIL IN SLOVAKIA IS APPROXIMATELY 4.5 THOUSAND MILLION M3 WHICH IS 4 TIME HIGHER THAN IN ALL WATER DAMS IN SLOVAKIA.

Graphics: Water balance in forest (According to Dr. Tužinský, Technical University in Zvolen)

3D: Arranged spring of water.

8. First thinning

THE TENDING METHOD CALLED THINNING ARE BEING APPLIED IN FOREST AT THE STAND AGE OF 25 – 30 YEARS. IN FORESTRY PRACTICE, THERE IS USED PREDOMINANTLY THINNING FROM ABOVE WITH POSITIVE SELECTION WHERE THE PROMISING CO–DOMINANT TREES ARE MARKED. IT MEANS THE TREES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY WHICH SHOULD LIVE TO ROTATION AGE. WITHIN THE TENDING THE INDIVIDUALS WHICH RESTRAIN THE PROMISING TREES FROM GROWTH ARE MARKED FOR FELLING. ON THE BASIS OF THINNING WHICH IS APPLIED ONE TIME PER 5 – 10 YEARS, FOREST PRODUCES TIMBER OF QUALITY AND AT THE SAME TIME IT FULFILLS ALL ITS FUNCTIONS – SOIL–PROTECTION, WATER–KEEPING, CLIMATIC, MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL. THINNINGS ARE APPLIED IN VARIOUS INTENSITY OF SELECTION. THINNING IS A VERY IMPORTANT TENDING MEASUREMENT SINCE BY THAT NOT ONLY QUALITY AND VOLUME OF FUTURE ROTATION–MATURE TREES ARE HIGHER, HOWEVER, ALSO THE OVERALL STABILITY AND RESISTANCE OF STAND.

Graphics: Fig.: Korpeľ: Pestovanie lesa [Silviculture], p. 192, 193: Fig. 101: a – stand before intervention, b– moderate thinning from below, e– moderate thinning from above

3D: Stand.

9. Cleaning

IN CASE THE STAND IS CLOSED (STAND AGE APPROACHES 10TH YEAR) AND ITS HEIGHT EXCEEDED 1.5 M, ITS TENDING, WHICH IS CALLED CLEANING, BEGINS. WITHIN THE SUCH INTERVENTION A FOREST MANAGER IS ORIENTED AT ELIMINATION OF COMMERCIALLY LITTLE IMPORTANT TREE SPECIES BY THE METHOD OF WEEDING CUT AND THINNING OF YOUNG GROWTH, AS WELL AS BY CLEANING. WITHIN THIS INTERVENTION, HE SELECTS PREFERABLY DAMAGED, ILL–FORMED AND SPREADING OUT INDIVIDUALS. IN SUCH WAY THE REMAINING TREES GET MORE LIGHT, INCREASE ITS DIAMETER AND BECOME MORE STABLE. CLEANING IS REGULARLY REPEATED IN APPROXIMATELY 5–YEAR INTERVAL AND PERFORMED TILL THE AGE OF 25 YEARS WHEN BEGINS A TENDING OF THE STAND BY THINNINGS.

Graphics: Drawing of thicket with individuals crossed by red line.

3D: 1

10. Forest protects soil

FOREST PROTECTS SOIL, IMPROVES IT AND ASSISTS IN ITS CREATION. THICKNESS OF FERTILE SOIL LAYER WHICH IS A SOURCE OF NUTRITION FOR THE WHOLE FLORA IS ABOUT 60 CM. ITS CREATION HAS BEEN LASTED MINIMALLY FROM 6 TO 7 THOUSAND YEARS. MAINTAINING OF THIS PRECIOUS COVER IS AN IMPORTANT CONDITION FOR LIFE AND HUMAN NUTRITION.

Forest stand protects soil against erosion, it means from its washing away by flurry, drying up and blowing away by wind. Under one square meter of forest soil there is up to 1000 m of roots which firm the soil. Forest soil without forest becomes desolated, loses its nutrition stability and a dead stone slowly comes on its surface. Ability of forest soil to accumulate water is huge. One hectare of forest soil stores up to 4 million liters of water which it steadily releases to water sources. In Slovakia, there are the most frequent soil type Cambisols (brown forest soil) which make up approximately 60% of the area of the forest land resources. There is before you a soil probe which head is made up from soil profile with separate soil horizons.

Graphics: Fig. „Koreňové systémy spevňujú pôdu“ [„Root systems firm the soil“] (Forest for the future, p 13.)

Photo of probe with description: 5 cm – 0 cm: Humus horizon (Oo), 0 cm – 25 cm: Umbric horizon (Au), 25 – 105 cm: Cambic horizon (Bv1, Bv2), 105 cm – 160 cm: transition horizon (B/C)

Materials: prof. Bublinec, Dr. Gregor, Technical University in Zvolen

3D: Dug probe with marked profiles.

11. Natural regeneration of forest

FOREST STANDS CAN BE REGENERATED ARTIFICIALLY OR NATURALLY. WITHIN THE ARTIFICIAL REGENERATION, THE SEED IS SAWN ON FOREST SOIL OR TRANSPLANTS OF FOREST TREE SPECIES GROWN IN THE FOREST NURSERIES ARE PLANTED. IN NATURAL REGENERATION, THE FOREST ARISES FROM SEED OF PARENT STAND WHICH GERMINATE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF IT. FOREST MANAGER MUST PREPARE STAND FOR SUCCESSFUL NATURAL REGENERATION AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. IN THE YEAR WHEN A GOOD SEED CROP IS EXPECTED, FOREST WILL BE OPEN UP BY SHELTERWOOD FELLING. FOREST MANAGER LOOSENS THE SOIL IN ADVANCE LOCALLY AND IN THE WHOLE AREA SCALE FOR THE PURPOSE OF GERMINATION OF AS MUCH SEED AS POSSIBLE AND SURVIVING OF AS MUCH SEEDLINGS AS POSSIBLE AFTER FALLING DOWN ON SOIL. IN CASE THE PARENT STAND IS OF A GOOD QUALITY AND WE WANT TO TRANSFER ITS PROPERTIES ALSO TO A NEW STAND, THE NATURAL REGENERATION OF FOREST IS BIOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY THE MOST ADVANTAGEOUS METHOD OF THE FOREST ESTABLISHMENT.

Graphics: Drawings of parent fir, cone, seed, seedlings, place in a circle with arrows.

3D: Stand

12. Honor to foresters and protectionist of the nature

IN SLOVAKIA, SIGNIFICANT FOREST MANAGERS, SCIENTISTS AND PEDAGOGUE WERE ACTING IN THE PAST. THEY CONSIDERED FOREST NOT ONLY AS AN OBJECT OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST, HOWEVER, MAINLY AS A BASIC PART OF THE NATURE. THEY TRIED TO PROTECT FORESTS AND STOP FROM THEIR INCONSIDERATE DAMAGING BY PASSING THROUGH A SUITABLE WAY OF MANAGEMENT. FOR THAT REASON WE CONSIDER THEM THE FIRST NATURE PROTECTIONISTS. THEY DESERVE OUR ATTENTION AND HONOR.

Jozef Dekret Matejovie (1774 – 1841)

Chamber wood–reeve in Banská Bystrica, born in Dobroč near Čierny Balog village, decisively contributed to preservation and improvement of forests in the upper–Hron region devastated by mining and metallurgy. His rationalization and pioneer methods were a basis for organized forest management in the whole country. Therefore he belongs to the most distinguished forest pioneers at the turn of the 18th and 19th century. Dekret‘s inheritance to conserve forests for descendants is still up–to–date.

Henrich Dávid Wilkens (1763 – 1832)

A natural historian, pedagogue and forest pioneer since 1807 had been the first professor at the newly established Forest Institute of the Mining Academy in Banská Štiavnica. He professed natural sciences and his scientific work was aimed at natural regeneration of forests, protection of forests and forest management planning.

Ľudovít Greiner (1796 – 1882)

A director of Coburgs’ forests and property in Jelšava (1828 – 1874) did not admit a large–scale clear–cuttings, respected the natural and artificial regeneration of forests and was passing through the silviculture of mixed stands. He was a recognized professional of forest management planning. He credited of a versatile enhancement of management in forests.

Wiliam Rowland (1814 – 1888)

A polyhistor, forester and nature protectionist in function of a wood–reeve of the Orava compossessory enhanced forest management in this region. He dealt with the forest management planning, regeneration and protection of forests mainly of its upper limit, modernization of transportation and organization of forest and agriculture associations (he was one of founders of Old–Hungarian Forest Association with its seat in Bratislava – 1851).

Karol Kaán (1867 – 1940)

An important official of the state forest administration, forest manager and pioneer of the nature protection opposed plundering of forests and was for rational utilization of wood. In management of forests he was passing through a large–scale silviculture activity and forestation of unused lands in lowlands. He credited of an inventory of the nature monuments and establishment of the first reserves in the Slovak Republic. His work Ochrana prírody a prírodné pamiatky (Nature protection and nature monuments) (1931) is the first conception of the nature protection in Old–Hungary.

Illustration: Portraits of the mentioned personalities

Source: photos and drawings

13. Conversion of tree species composition

FOREST IS A VARIED COMMUNITY. IN A NATURAL FOREST GROW VARIOUS KINDS OF TREE SPECIES OF VARIOUS AGE. IN CASE A MAN CHANGED FOREST BY HIS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY SO THAT ONLY ONE TREE SPECIE GROWS IN IT, THERE IS NECESSARY TO PLANT OTHER TREE SPECIES. THERE IS DONE A CONVERSION OF FOREST. IT MEANS CONVENIENT FOREST TREE SPECIES ARE PLANTED IN FOREST WHICH SHOULD OCCUR IN A GIVEN SITE, HOWEVER, THEY ARE MISSING THERE.

Graphics: Broadleaved tree species are planted beneath the mature coniferous tree specie.

3D: Stand

14. Protective Forests

THEIR ROLE FOLLOWS FROM CONCRETE NATURAL CONDITIONS.

Protective forests are

Forests on extraordinarily unfavourable sites as debris, gullies and locations with salient parent rock, not reinforced gravel depositions and deep peat bogs

High mountain forests below upper limit of tree vegetation protecting forests situated at lower altitude, forests being under heavy unfavourable climatic effect and forests reducing the risk of avalanches

Forests in the zone of dwarf pine

Other forests with prevailing function of soil protection.

Management in protective forests is carried out in a way to improve their protective function that is dominant.

Illustrations: Twig of dwarf pine with cone or flowers, Forests on cliffs

15. Forest wheeled tractor

TIMBER WHICH HAS BEEN HARVESTED CAN BE SKIDDED FROM FOREST TO FOREST DEPOTS BY VARIOUS WAYS – BY TRACTORS, LOG SLIDING, BY HORSES, CRANES, HELICOPTERS. IN SLOVAKIA, FOREST WHEELED TRACTORS DESIGNED FOR FOREST WORK DOMINATE WITHIN THE SKIDDING OF TIMBER. THEY ARE FOREST WHEELED TRACTORS (LKT) WHICH ARE CAPABLE TO PRODUCE HIGH TRACTIVE FORCE AND ITS SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION ALLOWS TO MOVE SKILFULLY ALSO IN A HEAVY TERRAIN. THEY CAN BE EQUIPPED BY WIDE–PROFILE OR LOW–PRESSURE TYRES WHICH REDUCE SIGNIFICANTLY SOIL EROSION. TRACTORS MOVE DURING THE WORK ALONG THE SKIDDING LINES AND EARTH FOREST ROADS (SLOPE ROAD), HOWEVER, THEY ARE ABLE TO COPE WITH NATURAL TERRAIN UP THE SLOPE OF 50%.

Two machines can be seen in the terrain:

1. LKT 81 Turbo, gift of the producer ZTS TEES Lesné Traktory, a.s. Trstená

2. Tracked tractor TDT – 55 produced in Russia which was used in unbearable parent rock and worked in the forests of Slovakia in the half of the last century.

Graphics: ŠLKT in action

3D: ŠLKT, PT

16. Special Purpose Forests

THEY ARE FORESTS FULFILLING SPECIFIC IMPORTANT SOCIAL NEEDS IN THE INTERESTS OF WHICH ALSO THEIR MANAGEMENT IS ADAPTED.

Special purpose forests are

Forests in protective zones of water resources of the I and II degree if in taking from surface sources their protection requires different way of management

Forests in protective zones of natural curative sources and sources of mineral waters, spa forests and forests surrounding medicinal–preventive facilities

Suburban forests and other forests with important sanitary–recreational function

Forests in approved game preserves and independent pheasantries

Forests on protected territories and other parts of forests being important from the viewpoint of nature conservation

Parts of forests affected by air pollutants

Parts of forests intended for forest research and education at forestry schools and forestry vocational schools

Parts of forests whose different way of management require interests of state defense or other nationally important interests.

In case of concurrence of several interests dominant restrictions and management goals decide about preferring the type of special purpose.

Illustrations: Primeval forest, Table „Nature reserve“, Table „Protective zone of water source“.

17. Forest chute

IN THE PAST, THE FELLED TIMBER WAS FREQUENTLY SKIDDED FROM THE STEEP SLOPES USING GRAVITATION. FOR THAT THERE WERE USED EARTH, SNOW, WATER OR WOODEN FOREST CHUTES WHICH WERE ADAPTED AND CONSTRUCTED SO THAT TIMBER RAN ON THEM BY ITSELF DOWN TO THE VALLEY FORCED ONLY BY AN OWN WEIGHT. FOR ACCELERATION A CHUTE WAS POURED ON WATER OR PAINTED BY WAX. FOR BRAKING THERE WAS USED A CLAY. CHUTES WERE SIMPLE, HOWEVER, SOPHISTICATED FACILITIES AND ITS CONSTRUCTION REQUIRED SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE. IN THE PAST, A CONSTRUCTION OF CHUTES WAS SPECIALLY TAUGHT AT THE FORESTRY SCHOOLS. IN 1546, STEYER WOOD–REEVE HOHENWARTER TAUGHT SLOVAKS TO BUILD THE CHUTES.

In a modern forestry a rational gravitation sliding of timber using plastic chutes will be used as well.

Graphics: Drawings No. 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42 with text: „Various profiles of wooden chutes – from the lectures of prof. Binder in 1945/46“.

3D: Chute

18. Tending of high forest

AN INCREMENT THINNING IS BEING PERFORMED IN THE STAND AT THE SECOND HALF OF THE FOREST STAND AGE, THOUGH APPROXIMATELY SINCE THE 50TH YEAR OF ITS LIFE. THE AIM OF SUCH TENDING INTERVENTION IS TO GET MORE LIGHT TO THE STAND. THIS ENCOURAGES A DIAMETER INCREMENT OF TREES WHICH LIVE UP TO A ROTATION AGE. THESE TREES ARE THEREFORE CALLED TARGET TREES. WITHIN THE LAST THINNING WHICH IS PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY AT THE AGE OF 80 YEARS, THE GOAL OF THINNING IS ALSO A PREPARATION OF THE STAND FOR A RICH FERTILITY OF FOREST SEED (FRUCTIFICATION).

Graphics: Sequence of thinning interventions in the life of the stand: (Graph: Korpeľ – Pestovanie lesov [Silviculture], p 184)

3D: Stand

19. Charcoal burning

WOODCUTTING AND CHARCOAL BURNING BELONGED TILL 1918 AMONG THE MOST TYPICAL PROFESSION IN SLOVAKIA. SINCE CHARCOAL WAS THE MAIN ENERGY SOURCE OF A DEVELOPING INDUSTRY, ITS PRODUCTION BELONGED TO A REPUTABLE JOB. TODAY WE CAN COMPARE IT WITH A CRUDE OIL EXTRACTION. WOOD WAS BURNED IN COAL HEAP, WHERE WOOD WAS EMBEDDED UP TO 60 STACKED CUBIC METERS. AFTER FLAMING WOOD HAD BEEN ROTTING IN COAL HEAP FOR 4 – 11 DAYS AND NIGHTS. CHARCOAL–BURNERS HAD TO PREPARE COAL THEMSELVES, TO CARRY WOOD IN WINTER AND SUMMER BY SKIDDING SLEDS, TO STACK INTO COAL HEAP, TO WATCH IT PERMANENTLY AFTER FLAMING SO AS IT WAS ROTTING NOT BURNING. AFTER CHILLING OUT THEY HAD TO DISMOUNT COAL HEAP, LOAD COAL INTO THE BAGS OR TO THE CARTS. COAL–BURNERS WENT TO FOREST FOR WEEKS, THEY SLEPT THERE IN UNDERGROUND SHELTERS. CHARCOAL BURNING WAS VERY HARD, A FIFTY–YEAR OLD COAL–BURNER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH FORCE FOR IT AND LEFT THE GROUP FOR AN EASIER LABOR.

Graphics: Drawings arch. Paško.

3D: Building of coal heap in cut. Skidding sleds, ruts.

Small table with text: This is 1 stacked cubic meter of wood.

20. How does wild–boar live ?

IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT ABOUT 24 000 WILD–BOARS LIVE IN THE SLOVAK FORESTS, YOU CAN SEE THIS INTERESTING FOREST RESIDENT ONLY RARELY. WILD–BOAR (SUS SCROFA) NOT ONLY LIVES AT NIGHT, HOWEVER, HE IS MOREOVER A VERY CLEVER AND CAREFUL ANIMAL. HE FEEDS ROOTS, FOREST FRUIT, SMALL ANIMALS AND CARCASSES. WILD SOW LITTERS UP TO 8 SUCKLINGS EARLY IN THE SPRING (MARCH, APRIL). THIS HIGH NUMBER OF SUCKLINGS CAUSES THAT THE NUMBER OF WILD–BOAR IS RELATIVELY STABLE AND HIGH, THOUGH, THEY ARE SOME TIME ENDANGERED BY VARIOUS DISEASES, MOSTLY BY SWINE PLAGUE. WILD–BOAR (CALLED BOAR BY HUNTERS) REACHES A WEIGHT UP TO 200 KG. IT HAS MIGHTY FUNGS WHICH HE CAN USE IN CASE OF DANGER. WILD SOW GOES WITH YOUNG, HOWEVER, NOT ONLY WITH PIGLETS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR BUT ALSO WITH SUCKLINGS OF THE LAST YEAR BY HUNTERS CALLED HOGGETS.

Graphics: Outline of boar, wild sow, piglet.

3D: Wild–boar in the reserve

21. Forest road

IN THE PAST WOOD WAS LOGGED ONLY NEAR RIVERS WHICH SERVED TRANSPORTATION OF IT (LOG DRIVING, RAFTING). DEVELOPMENT OF MINING AND METALLURGY CAUSED AN INCREASE OF WOOD CONSUMPTION. WHEN SOURCES NEAR RIVERS WERE SPENT, THERE WAS NECESSARY TO ENTER MORE DISTANCED FORESTS. THEN PEOPLE BEGAN TO BUILD THE FOREST RAILWAYS, HOWEVER, THEIR TECHNICAL POSSIBILITIES WERE ALSO LIMITED MAINLY BY THE TERRAIN SLOPE. THEREFORE A NEXT STAGE IN TRANSPORTATION OF WOOD IN FOREST FOLLOWED, AND IT HAS BEEN LASTED TILL THE PRESENT TIME. IT IS THE PERIOD OF FOREST ROADS. THE FIRST FOREST ROADS WERE BUILT AT THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY, FIRSTLY AS EARTH ROADS, LATE ENFORCED BY GRAVEL. THE FOREST ROADS OF TODAY HAVE A COMPLEX CONSTRUCTION AND THEIR BUILDING IN THE MOUNTAIN TERRAIN IS VERY DEMANDING AS WELL. FOREST ROADS ENABLE A COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION OF WOOD, FOREST PROTECTION AND SERVE SECURITY TASKS OF THE STATE.

Graphics: Road terminology – Fig. 1 (Makovník: Inžinierske stavby lesnícke [Forest Engineering Constructions]).

Part of transportation map (actual situation in a given locality]. Exhibit was made by: Company STASMO Oravská Polhora – ecological construction in forest

3D: Cut of forest road.

22. Forests and war

DURING THE YEARS OF THE WORLD WAR II, THE SLOVAK FORESTS HAVE PROVIDED SHELTER FOR MANY PERSECUTED PEOPLE FOR POLITICAL AND RACIAL REASONS, HOWEVER, ALSO FOR DROPOUTS FROM THE SLOVAK ARMY WHO REFUSED TO FIGHT IN THE GERMAN – SOVIET FRONT LINE. A SECURE SHELTER PROVIDED FOR THEM THE WOODCUTTERS‘ LOG CABINS, COTTAGES AND UNDERGROUND SHELTERS LOCATED DEEPLY IN THE MOUNTAINS. FORESTS IN THE REGION OF ČIERNY BALOG DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN 1944 – 1945 HAD PROVIDED SHELTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE 1ST CZECHOSLOVAK ARMY IN SLOVAKIA AND PARTISANS FROM THE 1ST CZECHOSLOVAK PARTISAN BRIGADE OF J. V. STALIN, PARTISAN ALLIANCE OF ALEXANDER NEVSKÝ, THE 2ND CZECHOSLOVAK PARTISAN BRIGADE CALLED ZA SLOBODU SLOVANOV (FOR LIBERTY OF SLOVANS) AND PARTISAN ALLIANCE OF CHRUščOV. MEMBERS OF MILITANT DIVISION SS SCHILL TOGETHER WITH THE MEMBERS OF SICHERHEITSDIENST AND SICHERHEITSPOLIZEI REALIZED RAIDS AGAINST THESE BRIGADES. SPEECHLESS WITNESSES OF UNEQUAL FIGHTS OF PARTISANS WITH NAZI UNITS ARE NUMEROUS GRAVES WHERE UNKNOWN HEROES REST.

Source: The Museum of the Slovak National Uprising B. Bystrica, OV SZPB Brezno

Graphics: Fire

3D: Grave

Technical parameters of underground shelter

Dimensions: horizontal projection: 2.5 × 2.5 m, height: 1.5 m

Underground shelter must be excavated in the earth approximately 1 m.

Lining: wood

Cover: insulating material + earth and branch litter.

Internal equipment: low wooden bunks, small table;

Small fire is necessary to place in front of the underground shelter.

23. Spatial arrangement of forest

THE PURPOSE OF FOREST DIVISION IS TO CREATE THE SPATIAL FRAMEWORK FOR FINDING THE CONDITION OF FOREST, PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE OF MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS ITS RECORD AND CONTROL.

The highest territorial spatial unit is a forest management unit. Within the forest management unit there exist the forest user‘s units delimited according to users or owners of forest lands.

The basic lowest permanent unit of the spatial division of forest is a compartment delimited on the basis of the same or similar nature, technical and production conditions.

The natural and artificial limits of compartments are marked on the trees by white lines (commercial forests and special purpose forests) or by red ones (20 × 5 cm) (protective forests) and by arrow in the direction of the course of the limit. The limits are demonstrated also in the stand map (scale 1 : 10 000).

The limits of property are along the perimeter assured by land marks and important internal measurement points also by land marks.

Illustration: Segment from the stand map of the surroundings of the Educational path. Mark of the limit of the commercial forest and protective forest (white and red line on the stem with arrow). Cut through the land marks and marking of land marks with number in map.

24. Forest railways

25. FOREST GUARD HOUSE

A PRINCIPAL PERSON WHO BEARS A DAILY RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE ABOUT FOREST, ITS ESTABLISHMENT, SILVICULTURE, PROTECTION AND LOGGING IS A FORESTER (FOREST GUARD, GAME WARDEN). A PROPER CARE ABOUT FOREST REQUIRES UNLIMITED WORKING HOURS. THEREFORE WE CAN MEET FOREST GUARD NOT ONLY DURING THE DAY BUT ALSO IN EVENING, AT NIGHT, DURING THE WORKING DAYS, AS WELL AS DURING HOLIDAYS. SUCH PARTICULARITY OF FOREST PROFESSION WAS EMPHASIZED ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST BY A LIVING IN FOREST OR IN THEIR VICINITY. SPECIAL SERVICE DWELLINGS SERVED THIS PURPOSE – FOREST GUARD HOUSE (GAME–KEEPER’S HOUSE, FORESTER’S HOUSE). FORESTER AND ITS FAMILY NOT ONLY LIVED IN A FOREST GUARD HOUSE, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE THERE ALSO ITS OFFICE, ACCOMMODATION FOR SERVICE VISITS, STORES FOR FOREST TOOLS. NEAR THE FOREST GUARD HOUSE THERE WERE OUTHOUSES WHICH SERVED THE BOXING SERVICE HORSES AND FOR BREEDING OF LIVESTOCK FOR PERSONAL FOREST GUARD NEED. IN SLOVAKIA, MANY FINE HISTORICAL FOREST GUARD HOUSES WERE PRESERVED, SOME OF THEM ARE STILL INDWELLED, HOWEVER, MANY ARE ABANDONED FOR AN OVERALL CHANGE OF THE LIFE STYLE.

You are in the front of a forest guard house of Smrečina built in a remote place in Kamenistá dolina valley in Slovenské rudohorie mountains. It was indwelled till the year 1972. In 2003, it was included in this open–air–museum.

Graphics: Scene from the front of the forest guard house (forest guard writes something, coachman drove wood, forest guard’s wife feeds geese, around are outhouses()

3D: Forest guard house

26. Forest nursery

A PLACE WHERE ARE GROWN SEEDLINGS OF FOREST TREE SPECIES FROM SEED IS CALLED A FOREST NURSERY. TRANSPLANTS ARE BEING GROWN IN THE NURSERY FOR 2 TO 5 YEARS AND THEN THEY ARE USED FOR FOREST ESTABLISHMENT, IN ARTIFICIAL REGENERATION, AS WELL AS FOR COMPLETION OF TREES MISSING AFTER A NATURAL REGENERATION. WORKS IN THE FOREST NURSERY INCLUDE PREPARATION OF FOREST SEED FOR GERMINATION, PROTECTION OF SPROUTED SEEDLINGS, IN THEIR TRANSPLANTING, IN TREATMENT OF TRANSPLANTS UP TO A FINAL MOVE FROM SEEDBED AND TRANSPORT TO PLACE OF PLANTING. WORK IN NURSERY REQUIRES SPECIAL MACHINERY EQUIPMENT (TRANSPLANTERS, UNDERCUTTERS, SPRAYERS().

Within the collection of seed of forest tree species and cultivation of transplants foresters proceed so as only genetically convenient transplants were always used in afforestation. Convenient transplants are the main guarantee of future quality of forest. Production of transplants in forest nurseries is one of the most demanding and significant activities in forest. In the Slovak forests are being grown 20 forest tree species, 6 of those are the main commercial tree species: representation of beech is 30%, spruce 27%, oak 11%, pine 8%, hornbeam 6%, fir 4% of the area of forests (other 14%).

Do you know forest tree species which you can find in this forest nursery?

This mini–nursery has been established by the Branch Enterprise Semenoles Liptovský Hrádok.

Graphics: Cycle of development: spruce seed – seedling – transplants

3D: Forest mini–nursery.

27. Forest cableways

FOREST CABLEWAYS ARE USED FOR SKIDDING OF TIMBER FROM STEEP MOUNTAIN SLOPES, FROM INACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS AND ON UNBEARABLE LANDS. IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGIES, WORK WITH CABLEWAYS IS LESS INJURIOUS TO FOREST STAND, SOIL OR NATURAL REGENERATION OF FOREST. UTILIZATION OF CABLEWAYS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED WHERE A USING OF GROUND MEANS IS NOT RATIONAL, EFFECTIVE OR SAFE. STANDARD LENGTH OF A ROUT OF FOREST CABLEWAYS IS UP TO 500 M, LOADING CAPACITY IS IN THE INTERVAL FROM 0.5 TONS (VERY EASY) UP TO 5 TONS (VERY HEAVY CABLEWAYS).

A disadvantage of cableways is a demanding technological preparation of working place connected with projection and construction of the rout. There is necessary a higher degree of professional preparation of managing and performing staff. An advantage of cableways is a possibility of skidding timber against a slope, reduced using of roads and especially lower negative load of the forest environment by human activities.

In a site you can see Austrian cableway STEYR KSK 16/2. Its technological and technical characteristics are as follows:

|Engine power |235 kW |

|Skidding distance |500 m |

|Loading capacity |5000 kg |

|Height of tilting bearing |17.4 m |

|Weight of vehicle with cables |360 000 kg |

Cables:

|carrying cable(length/diameter) |700 m/24 mm |

|towing cable |650 m/16 mm |

|reversible cable |1000 m/14 mm |

|auxiliary cable |650 m / 9 mm |

|carriage |KSK 16 |

Material: Prof. Lukáč, Technical University in Zvolen

28. Care for a young forest

DURING THE FIRST YEARS OF ITS LIFE AN ARISING FOREST IS CALLED YOUNG PLANTATION (IN CASE IT AROSE FROM ARTIFICIAL AFFORESTATION) OR ADVANCE GROWTH (IN CASE IT AROSE FROM NATURAL REGENERATION). IN THIS PERIOD YOUNG FOREST REQUIRES A SPECIAL ATTENTION. IN CASE OF YOUNG PLANTATION THERE IS IMPORTANT TO HELP YOUNG TREES TO WIN ESPECIALLY STRUGGLE AGAINST WEED WHICH COULD OVERGROW AND EXTINGUISH THEM. IMPORTANT IS ALSO A STRUGGLE AGAINST GAME WHICH DAMAGE YOUNG TREES BY BROWSING OF SHOOTS AND BY BARK PEELING. WEED IS BEING SUPPRESSED MAINLY BY HOEING, WHIPPING AND CUTTING AROUND EACH TREE WHICH IS LABORIOUS, HOWEVER, INEVITABLE. VARIOUS MECHANICAL (TINFOIL, FIBRES, RETICLES) AND CHEMICAL (COATINGS) REPELLENTS ARE USED AGAINST GAME. VERY EXPENSIVE, HOWEVER, EFFECTIVE MEASUREMENT IN GAME CONTROL IS FENCING OF FOREST PLANTATIONS. THERE IS ALSO NECESSARY A BIOLOGICAL PROTECTION WHICH INCLUDES KEEPING OF ADEQUATE NUMBER OF GAME. IN CASE OF GROWTH WHICH IS USUALLY VERY DENSE IS NECESSARY MAINLY ITS NATURAL THINNING (DECREASING OF DENSITY OF ADVANCE GROWTH) AND MANAGING TREE SPECIES COMPOSITION BY REMOVING REDUNDANT TREES AND PREFERRING OF LACKING TREE SPECIES.

Graphics: Three transplants, first one covered by tinfoil, second one by reticle, third unprotected one is being browsed by hind.

3D: Transplants mechanically and chemically treated and protected: hoeing, cutting, tinfoil, polynet, cervakol

29. Game management

GAME MANAGEMENT IS AN AGGREGATE OF ACTIVITIES AIMED AT PRESERVING, IMPROVEMENT, PROTECTION AND OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF GENE POOL OF GAME AS A NATURE WEALTH OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC (FROM THE ACT ON GAME MANAGEMENT).

Nature is a cathedral which a hunter enters with respect. Right hunter is a real adept at our game and its environment. He knows well the laws of nature. He knows that each stone, plant or animal have there exactly determined place and mission. For hunter, the first is a breeding and care for game – feeding, building of game food plots, hunting facilities – feeders, salt lick, high seat, keeping discipline, customs and tradition. Slovakia has a rich hunting history and an advanced hunting culture. An idea of establishing the world hunting organization C. I. C. came into existence in the territory of Slovakia in 1928. Thanks to unified hunting organization (since 1920) Slovakia has succeeded in reaching a wide scale of game kinds of today and a high abundance of game. We have advanced science and research in game management, hunting cynology, falconry, playing the hunting horn (bugle), hunting literature, hunting museums, we have the best caller of deer. The Slovak Hunting Union currently associates more than 53 thousand members and through the mediation of hunting associations it manages 3 290 million hectares.

Graphics: The Hunting Museum is situated in the mansion in Saint Anton near Banská Štiavnica (drawings of the mansion)

Hunting facilities – high seat, feeder, salt lick – under the management of the Slovak Hunting Union.

3D: High seat, feeder, salt lick

30. Why are skidding roads built?

FOREST ROAD NETWORK, WHICH SERVES TRANSPORTATION OF TIMBER BY FORWARDERS, IS JOINED TOGETHER WITH SKIDDING ROADS WHICH ENABLE MOVING OF FOREST TRACTORS WITHIN THE WOOD SKIDDING FROM FOREST STANDS TO FOREST DEPOTS. SKIDDING ROADS ARE BUILT AS UNPAVED EARTH BODY, THEIR LONGITUDINAL SLOPE IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER IN COMPARISON WITH FOREST ROAD. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SKIDDING ROADS ARE USED DOZERS AND GRADERS.

Graphics: Drawings of dozer building skidding road.

Figure No. 6 from Forest engineering construction (without ridge and contour road)

3D: Dozer

31. Waterway transportation of timber

IN THE PAST, TIMBER WAS TRANSPORTED BY WATER CHUTE THROUGHOUT THE WETLAND VALLEYS. WATER CHUTE HAD SADDLE, BOTTOM AND SIDEWARDS. SIDEWARDS AND BOTTOM WERE JOINTING BY MOSS FOR NOT LEAKING OFF WATER. SIDEWARDS WERE FASTENED TO SADDLE BY SPRUCE BRANCHES INTO THE DRIVEN HOLES. TIMBER WAS FLOATED (RAFTED) IN BROOKS TO THE CAPTURING FACILITIES – RAKES – BUILT AT LARGE CONSUMERS. TIMBER WAS RAFTED MAINLY ON SNOW WATER. IN CASE OF LACK OF WATER IT WAS LET OUT FROM WATER TANKS FOR THE NEEDS OF RAFTING. FROM THE REGION OF HOREHRONIE, 160 000 M3 OF TIMBER WERE RAFTED ANNUALLY. THE ONLY FUNCTIONAL WATER CHUTE IN CENTRAL EUROPE IS SITUATED IN DOLNÝ HARMANEC NEAR BANSKÁ BYSTRICA.

Graphics: Large rake near Podbrezová (From “Settlers in Horehronie region”, photo No. 9)

3D: Water chute

32. Living forest map of Slovakia

SLOVAKIA BELONGS TO THE MOST FORESTED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD. FORESTED COUNTRIES PRODUCE THE IMPORTANT NEEDS FOR HUMAN LIFE – WATER, OXYGEN, SOIL AND THEREFORE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE WILL INCREASE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THERE EXISTS A VISION THAT ECONOMIC POWER OF TODAY’S PRODUCERS OF CRUDE OIL WILL BE SUBSTITUTED BY A POWER OF FUTURE PRODUCERS OF FOREST WEALTH.

Graphics:

1. Comparison of forest percentage of the selected world countries – column graph (Leaflet Forest in Slovakia) %.

2. % of classification of lands in Slovakia – cycle graph (Leaflet Forest in Slovakia)

3. % of tree species composition – cycle graph (Leaflet Forest in Slovakia)

3D: Forest map of the Slovak Republic

33. Logging

THE YEAR OF 1825 WAS REVOLUTIONARY FOR LOGGING IN SLOVAKIA. A GREAT FOREST PROFESSIONAL, NATIVE OF ČIERNY BALOG VILLAGE, JOZEF DEKRET MATEJOVIE INTRODUCED A TWO–HANDED SAW INTO LOGGING (FELLING, CUTTING). THEREFORE A CUTTER, IN A RIGHT SENSE, LEAVES A HISTORICAL SCENE AND A FELLER OF WOOD COMES. INTRODUCTION OF SAWS ENABLED A RAPID INCREASE OF PRODUCTION RATE OF LOGGING AND TO ELIMINATE DAMAGING OF THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF TREE WHICH WAS CAUSED WITHIN THE CUTTING OF TIMBER BY AXE.

During 10 – 12 hours of work a cutter had felled from 1 to 2 stacked cubic meters by axe. Two fellers in the same time and with a less effort produced together 6 stacked cubic meters of timber. In spite of this fact, fellers firstly resisted introduction of saws, even by strike.

Today, in addition to power saws, the modern logging machines – harvesters have been used in logging.

Graphics: Drawings of harvester

3D: Wood–carving of two fellers in a life size, 1 stacked cubic meter, bark shepherd’s hut (separate text)

34. Bear den

GO CAREFULLY, NOT TO AWAKE BEAR(

Bear is our biggest carnivore that reaches up to 250 kg. It is an omnivore, however, it feeds mainly by vegetable food. In November, or December it puts itself for false hibernation from which it awakes some times during the winter. It builds its den below windfalls of trees. You just stand at one of them(

Graphics: Bear

3D: Bear den

35. Forest without limits

THE MORE IMPORTANCE OF THE COUNTRY BOUNDARIES IS LOSING, THE MORE THE ROLE OF FORESTS IS INCREASING IN OUR PLANET. THERE IS AN ENGAGEMENT OF EACH ADVANCED COUNTRY TO ACT IN A WAY THAT ITS FOREST WEALTH WAS UTILIZED WISELY AND SUSTAINABLY PRESERVED SINCE THIS IS THE GREATEST SERVICE WHICH FORESTERS CAN PROVIDE FOR HUMAN BEING. AT THIS PLACE WE MENTION AN EXAMPLE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, FORESTERS FROM NORWAY WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO SLOVAKIA BY IT FOREST PERCENTAGE (39%). ATTITUDES OF NORWEGIANS TO NATURE AND THEIR FORESTRY CULTURE IS ON A HIGH LEVEL. OF THE AREA OF FORESTS, 2% ARE STRICTLY PROTECTED (I.E. 226 000) AND 25% REPRESENT PROTECTIVE FORESTS. AN INTEREST OF THE STATE POLICY OF NORWAY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMICALLY ADVANCED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, IS TO INCREASE PERMANENTLY THE AREA OF PROTECTED TERRITORIES. A RELATION AMONG THE TIMBER INCREASE IN NORWEGIAN FORESTS AND ITS LOGGING CAN BE SEEN IN A GRAPH.

Graphics: 1. Graph, 2. Norwegian flag

3D: Bench, mill

36.

THANK YOU.

For purity of ideas.

For power.

For wisdom.

For health.

For beauty.

I’ll come again.

I need you.

I need you, forest!

Graphics: Globe with heart and tree.

37. Death poles

UNSUITABLE CONSTRUCTIONS OF SUPPORTIVE POINTS OF 22 KV OF ELECTRIC WIRING BECOME THE DEATH POLES FOR SEVERAL KINDS OF BIRDS MAINLY BIRDS OF PREY. THEY FREQUENTLY DIE ON THEM DUE TO ELECTRIC SHOCK CAUSED BY SHORT–CIRCUITING OF CONDUCTOR WITH CONSOLE IN SETTLING DOWN.

In spite of the fact that each settling down on console is not deadly, 10 to 15 thousand of birds mainly birds of prey, owls and storks die annually due to injuries caused by electric voltage in Slovakia.

The protective measurement are comb–shaped blocks which prevent settling down of birds on the electric wiring poles with horizontal consoles of the T–shape or new consoles without horizontal elements.

Electric wiring in the open landscape are preferably adapted in a such way since the birds use the supportive points as an observation points or near rookery of endangered kinds of birds.

Illustration: Bird of prey short–circuiting the electric wiring (illustration of discharge). Console with comb–shaped blocks. New construction of console without the horizontal elements

3D: Mounted comb–shaped block on the pole of electric wiring

38. Water animals

A CLEANNESS OF STREAM FLOWING THROUGH THE VYDROVSKÁ VALLEY IS DOCUMENTED BY AN OCCURRENCE OF SEVERAL KINDS OF ANIMALS WHICH ARE SENSITIVE TO WATER POLLUTION. MAINLY SOME KINDS OF MULTICOLORED DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES, OF WHICH LARVAE OF PREY DEVELOP IN WATER, BELONG TO INTERESTING AND SIGNIFICANT ONES AS INDICATORS. WET ALLUVIUM USE ALSO OTHER REPRESENTATIVES OF INSECTS MAINLY BEETLES AND MOTHS.

There live in the stream mayflies (ephemerids) and stoneflies characterized by shells from small stones and other available material for protecting their body.

From fish there occur brook trout and bullheads (Cottus poecilopus Heckel), from crustaceans, e.g. crawfish. There live bank animals, from amphibians for example salamander, frog, toad, from birds gray and white wagtail and dipper. From mammals there is represented rarely otter which is predominantly animal living in dusk and now it belongs to endangered kinds of our fauna.

Illustration: dragonfly, crawfish, brook trout, toad, dipper, otter

Source: Z našej prírody (Živočíchy) [From our nature(Animals)]

Name of demonstration object: Gene reserve of spruce

Branch Forest Enteprise: Čierny Balog

Compartment: 99

Forest use category: Commercial

Management type unit: 55 HV 100

Group of forest types: Fageto–Abietum 90%, Abieto–Fagetum 10%

Tree species composition: spruce 100%

Slope inclination: 35%, slope aspect: north–west, altitude: 580–680 m a.s.l.

Stand age: 75 years for upper storey, 7 years for lower storey, rotation age: 100 years Compartment area: 10.50 ha for upper storey and 4.50 ha for lower storey, growing–stock per hectare: 545 m3, total growing–stock: 8175 m3

Characteristic: Two–storeyed forest stand without treatment. In the past only a sanitary and salvage felling with low intensity were realised.

Tatra National Park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

The Tatra National Park is situated in northern Slovakia, along the border with Poland. It was established on December 18, 1948. Its area is 74,111 ha, length more than 60 km, width 10–17 km. The core zone represents 44%, protection zone 21% and transition zone 35% of the area. The small–size protected areas occupy 37,551 ha including 27 National Nature Reserves, 23 Nature Reserves, 2 Protected Biotopes, 1 National Nature Monument and 2 Nature Monuments. There are about 1,300 plant species, including several local, Western Carpathian and Carpathian endemics. The fauna comprises 115 bird, 45 mammal, 8 reptilian and 3 amphibian species. The geology of the Tatra National Park includes crystalline, mostly granodiorite series, and Mesosoic to Paleogene sediments. The geomorphology is to a considerable extent a result of the Quaternary glacial periods. Glacial and barren landscape are typical thus of the area. The following vegetation zones have been present in the area:

1. Submontane zone below 700 m a.s.l. represented by agricultural landscapes with enclaves of forests on steeper slopes, waterlogged areas and remnants of formerly large peat bogs.

2. Montane zone between 700 and 1200–1250 m a.s.l. covered by large forests dominated by Norway spruce and, on richer substrates, also by fir and beech.

3. The subalpine zone ranges from 1200–1250 m to 1500–1550 m a.s.l. Spruce forests dominated the Western part, spruce–larch forests the central and spruce–beech and maple forests in the eastern limestone part of the mountains. Spruce–Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra) formations are typical of the upper part of this zone.

4. Timberline vegetation from 1500–1550 to 1800–1850 m a.s.l. represented by more or less continuous formations dominated by dwarf pine

5. The alpine zone is in elevations from 1800–1850 to 2300 m a.s.l. and includes the biotopes of alpine meadows, springs, brooks, tarns low alpine shrubs, snow beds, and rocky walls.

6. The subnival zone is above 2300 m a.s.l.

The animal communities are rich in species due to a great differentiation of biotopes. The carnivores are represented, e.g., by brown bear, mountain lynx, wolf, wildcat, pine marten. The ungulates include red deer and roe deer. The tetraonid birds are capercaillie, black grousec and hazel hen (Tetrastes bonasia), raptors are represented, e.g., by golden eagle (Aquilla chrysaetos), lesser spotted eagle (Aquilla pomarina), hobby (Falco subbuteo), owls by the Ural owl, Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) and pygmy owl (Glaucidum paserinum), the woodpeckers by Picoides tridactillus and Dryocopus martius. The woodland songbirds include six thrushes (Turdus) species, Pyrrhyla pyrrhula, crossbill and nutcracker. Typical subnival mammals are chamois, alpine marmot, small rodents as Tatran vole (Pytimys tatricus) and snow vole (Chionomys nivalis), and songbirds Tichodroma muraria, Anthus spinoletta and Oenanthe oenanthe. The rare invertebrates are the butterflies Erebia pandrosse, E. gorge, Psoda alpinata, the beetles Nebria tatrica and Deltomerus tatricus. The amphibians are represented, among others, by a Carpathian endemic Triturus montadonii and Triturus alpestris.

Conservation of forest genetic resources in the Tatra National Park

Human interventions to the montane forests through grazing, fires and partly uncontrolled wood extraction until the end of the 19th century, and air pollution effects present from the 1960’ies, made it necessary to implement active program of conservation of forest genetic resources. The measures applied have included the establishment of gene reserve forests, in situ and ex situ reproductive stands (planted progenies), and forest seed bank. There are also temporarily protected approved stands for seed collection and several seed orchards. To conserve forest genetic resources on a population basis, the area was divided into 6 parts according to the geographic, climatic and phyto–geographical characteristics: Roháče Mts., Liptovské Tatras, Hight Tatras – South, Hight Tatras – North, Belianske Tatras (limestones) and Spišská Magura.

Štrbské pleso and surrounding it forests

Štrbské pleso is situated in the southern part of High Tatras in the altitude of 1350 m. The Inner–Carpathian climate with reduced annual precipitation and cold winters is typical of the area, which is dominated by semi–natural larch–spruce forests then. They reach biological maturity at the age of approx. 150 years, when their growing stock is 250–300 m3.ha–1. In the natural regeneration of these stands, specific attention must be paid to full sunlight and open mineral soil required by larch. In 1990, a series of experiments aimed at the development of a close–to–nature regeneration using group selection was established. In one felling, approximately 20% of the standing volume was removed. The national regeneration of larch outgrowing herbal vegetation established after 7 years. The experiments helped the National Park Administration in planning regeneration and silvicultural measures in the area, where adult, nearly even–aged larch–spruce forests prevail.

Gene Reserve Forest Štrbské Pleso

Purpose: The purpose of the gene reserve forest is to conserve gene pool of local Norway spruce and European larch, which are typical of high vitality and are well adapted to local site conditions.

Description: The gene reserve forest consists of 3 cores (total area 99.55 ha) comprised of the forest compartments 353d, 354d, 355, 356a, c, d, e, and 357. Protection zone of these cores includes all forest compartments along their boundaries. The altitude of the gene reserve is from 1 200 to 1 500 m. It is situated southeast to northwest of Štrbské Pleso Lake.

Boundaries: The road Liptovský Mikuláš–Tatranská Lomnica is southern and Štrbské lake eastern boundary. Western boundary follow margins of respective forest compartments and the northern one is the timberline vegetation.

Accessibility: Majority of the compartments is accessible by a network of skidding roads. The uppermost (northern) part is accessible only partially.

Age structure: The reserve consists of mostly 130–170 year old stands in a stage of maturity to natural biological decline.

The coverage of natural regeneration is 30–40% in open patches in the central part, while less than 10% in other patches where tall grasses and blueberries dominate the herbal layer. Scarced natural vegetation occurs also under the canopy. Southern part is rocky. Spruce predominates (90%), followed by rowan (10%). Naturally regenerated larch is scarce.

Long–term management goals and guidelines: To reproduce naturally the gene pool of local Norway spruce and European larch. To support natural regeneration by means of individual and group regeneration felling and maintain current share of larch at the level of 10–15%. As Norway spruce regenerates abundantly on open patches after declined trees while larch is scarce, it is recommended to enhance natural regeneration of spruce by planting of larch plants originating from the compartments of the gene reserve.

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