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ORAL PRESENTATION
414 | I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a u c a s i a n F o r e s t r y S y m p o s i u m
Modern Approaches in Context of Nature Conservation
and That Can Be Used in Silvicultural Systems of Turkey
Esra Bayar
1
, Musa Genc
2
, Fahrettin Atar
3
, and Ibrahim Turna
4
1
Res. Asst., Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey;
2
Prof., Izmir Katip
Celebi University, Izmir;
3
Res. Asst., Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon,
Turkey;
4
Prof., Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
E-Mail: esrakasarci@sdu.edu.tr
Abstract:
Nature conservation should be made with nature objects. Increased population and irresponsible consumption
caused the destruction of the forest and this situation has emerged new approaches about nature conservation
which is the largest component of the nature in forest. Likewise, forest management with nature conservations has
become more important in recent years and began to take place in silvicultural systems. Thus, appropriate
management lost its classical meaning, reserving even leaving dead tree in natural forests has become an
indispensable application. In context of functional planning which increasingly more important, expectations from
forests are not only wood production but also ecosystem (habitat) specie and gene conservation in context of
sustainability of biodiversity and this approach has become the basis in forest management. Applications which take
place in world literature seem applicable in Turkey and some of them were implemented in Turkey. In this article,
studies which are made in Turkey, in context of silvicultural systems within natural conservation are summarized and
modern approaches were described innovations which can be displayed.
Key Terms: natural conservation, silvicultural systems, new challenges
Introduction:
Forest is a source that humans used
throughout the history. Rapid population
growth and industrialism damaged natural
resources. Consequences of this damage
affected humans and other living creatures,
thus, our perspective of forests started to
change as a result of it conservation and
improvement of forest gain importance (Dirik
1997).
Forests are the most valuable asset of a
country. Forest conservation changed
throughout the years. Forest conservation used
to be leaving forest to its natural state but now
it means improving forest with planned
silvicultural practices and continuity of
ecosystem (Anonymous 2006). This can be
achieved by not only protecting natural
resources but also protecting diversity of
species and conserving their economic,
ecologic, ethic and aesthetic values. Main goal
is the conservation of forest with its courses. It
is the conservation of forest with its biologic
diversity, abiotic natural resources, landscape
tables (rarity, naturalness, etc.), and genetic
richness of animal and plant populations,
biotopes, safety of natural selection of animal
and plant species (Colak 2001).
In order to create nature like forests
silvicultural practices that suits present
ecosystem on that area. Thus, these
applications must prioritize conservation of
ecosystem and natural structure. Goal is to
protect habitats, animals and plants. Especially,
in nature like forest management approach
forest reserves that weren’t opened for
management are important. Also, sufficient
number of old and dead trees should be left in
the forest and this situation contributes to
ecological continuity (Colak 2001).
Silviculture and nature conservation is in close
relation. Supportive applications in silvicuture
are continuous yield, heterogenic growth
conditions, layered stand structure, long
regeneration period, and continuity in youth
(establishment) reducing losses in genetic
diversity, and conservation of differentiation in
development ages (Colak 2001). Also, forests
have climatic, recreational, hydrologic, nation
defense, production, aesthetic and scientific
functions (Eraslan 1992). Depending of these
functions, the importance of nature
conservation and conservative silvicultural
practices are increased.
In this article, summary of history of nature
conservation in silvicultural practices were
Esra Bayar, Musa Genc, Fahrettin Atar, and Ibrahim Turna
415 | I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a u c a s i a n F o r e s t r y S y m p o s i u m
given and features of modern silvicultural
practices were explained.
Nature conservation focused silvicultural
systems to date in Turkey: Main focus of the
nature conservation in Turkey is preservation
and sustainability of continuity. However,
nature like silviculture aims to protect genetic
diversity and structure of the forest (Colak
2001). Damaging forests, grazing on natural
regeneration areas, changes in the mix percent
of mixed stands, and wrong seed material
usage in afforestation applications reduced
genetic diversity of Turkey (Yahyaoglu and
Genc 1990). In the past, many species were
destroyed and ecosystem was damaged with
the name of clean management and, even the
dead trees were cleared from the area.
Benefits of these dead trees, especially, to bird
species were ignored. Today, there are still
some untouched forests in Turkey and
ecosystem of those forests are self-sustained.
In nature like silviculture habitat
characteristics, ecological order and natural
development stages are taken into
consideration. First step in multipurpose
forestry is to reduce large area clear felling and
choosing natural regeneration based
applications instead of afforestation (Colak
2001).
Today, following systems are being used in
Turkey; clearcut systems (the uniform clearcut
system, the strip clearcut system), shelterwood
systems (the uniform shelterwood system, the
strip shelterwood system, the nurse-tree
shelterwood system), coppice systems (the
simple coppice system, the pollard system, the
fodder leaf system), accessory systems (high
forest with reserves system) and selection
system (the single tree selection system) (Genc
and Bayar 2013). The most used system in
Turkey is shelterwood silviculture system
which is controlled decrease of density and
protection of youth from heat, drought, frost
and harmful effects of understory (Genc 2013).
This also protects macro and microorganisms
from burning-drying effects of sun (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Shelterwood that protects youth from heat, drought and frost (URL 1)
In clearcut, age class or area clearcut systems
aren’t preferred. Because clearcut sites will be
subjected to radiation 10 times more than
dense stands (Colak 2001). Actually, main aim
in uniform-zone clearcut system is to protect
biological diversity and existing plant taxons
and bring youth on all regeneration area. In
Turkey shelterwood and clearcut systems are
being applied with leaving single reserve tree
(Figure 2). Single trees are left uncut for
reserves or under one hectare areas trees left
uncut in patches for reserves. Main goal of
leaving reserves is not to grow thick and high
quality trees. Real reason is to protect habitat,
diversity of gene and species and achieve
aesthetics in application area for at least one
rotation period (Genc 2013).
Figure 2. Reserves left from clearcut system (right, URL 2 ), group reserves (left, URL 3)
Modern Approaches in Context of Nature Conservation and That Can Be Used in Silvicultural Systems of Turkey
416 | I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a u c a s i a n F o r e s t r y S y m p o s i u m
Reserves that left in regeneration area will help
youth fighting heat, drought, frost and harmful
understory effects. Expected benefit from
these reserves is indirect. Reserves usually left
in area for water source preservation and to
support wild life. Stem diameter which is more
than 12.5 cm is sufficient for reserves (Genc
2013). Selection system forests are the only
management system that has youth in every
period since it doesn’t have a specific method
and no regeneration period. Selection forests
are ideal because of genetic benefits. At the
same time coppice forests also contributes to
conservation of genetic diversity (Colak 2001).
Leaving single or path reserves is a way of
preserving habitat, species and genes.
However, high forest with reserves system is
not a regenerative practice. It aims thick wood
production, but they contribute to natural
regeneration practices with sowing. Also youth
can help stand continuity in case of forest fires
(Genc 2013). All of these mentioned silviculture
systems are focused on conserving the nature
directly and indirectly.
New silvicultural approaches that focus
nature conservation: Some of the new
silvicultural practices that focus nature
conservation can be applied to Turkey’s
forests. In addition to the clearcut systems,
patch clearcut system and retention system are
emerged. Patch clearcut system is natural,
artificial or natural+artificial regeneration
system that is removal of an entire stand of
trees less than one hectare in size from an area
(Figure 3). Patch clearcut system can be
preferred for areas that have high water
production capacity and to reduce wind
damage. It can be a good solution in
prevention of erosion on sloppy terrain (Genc
2013).
Figure 3. Regeneration by patch clearcut system (URL 2)
In retention system; leave more than half the
total area of the cut block within one tree
height from the base of a tree or group of trees
(Figure 4). Aim of this system is to preserve
ecological order complex structures-diversity in
stand form and provide continuity. This system
helps clearcutting areas to have at least 50 %
covering by reserve trees or groups (Genc
2013).
Figure 4. Retention system (URL 2)
Retention system provides late successional
structures to enrich diversity, enhance habitat
connectivity over the landscape, and supply
refuges for survival and dispersal of species
after harvesting. Another system that articles
mention is seed tree system (Figure 5).
Grouped or uniform seed tree system is similar
to shelterwood system inTurkey. Most of the
times application is completed with seed tree
cut and removal cut. Difference between
uniform shelterwood and seed tree system is
that shelterwood system leaves 60-100 trees in
the field while seed tree only leaves 15-25
trees (Genc 2013).
Esra Bayar, Musa Genc, Fahrettin Atar, and Ibrahim Turna
417 | I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a u c a s i a n F o r e s t r y S y m p o s i u m
Figure 5. Area after seed tree system harvesting group (left) and uniform (right, URL 3).
Group shelterwood, irregular shelterwood and
natural shelterwood systems are regeneration
systems that can be used in Turkey. In group
shelterwood system the regeneration period
for the cutting unit is still concentrated at the
beginning of the rotation over 20-30 years,
creating an even-aged stand. This system is
used on wind damage protected areas with tap
root trees species that are resistant to heat-
drought, frost and understory effects (Genc
2013). Thus, stand is selectively thinned to help
biological diversity and microorganism
activities (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Group shelterwood system step by step (URL 2)
Irregular shelterwood system is based on
structure of natural forests and forest tree
species. It’s a natural silviculture practice
(Figure 7). There is no rotation period for
stands. It can be applied to pure stands but
usually used for mixed stands. Irregular
shelterwood system protects and maintains
youth with old trees. It provides plants and
animals a chance to create their habitats (Genc
2013). This system is focused on nature
conservation.
Figure 7. Irregular shelterwood system (Matthews 1997)
Modern Approaches in Context of Nature Conservation and That Can Be Used in Silvicultural Systems of Turkey
418 | I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a u c a s i a n F o r e s t r y S y m p o s i u m
In natural shelterwood system, the
regeneration is established naturally under the
shelter of an overstorey and only application of
it is removal cut (Figure 8). Second layer
individuals are devoid of needed light to
develop so they may have shorter shoots
compared to normal individuals. It is suggested
that this system should be planned and applied
with continuous forestry principles (Genc
2013).
Figure 8. Suitable stand for natural shelterwood system and its state after removal cut (URL 4)
Group selection system isn’t being used in
Turkey, yet. There are requirements for group
selection system. These requirements are;
flight capability of the seeds of the trees that
forms the stand, heat, drought and frost
resistance during youth and growing rate of
youth to handle understory (Figure 9). Group
and strip shelterwood systems created to turn
even aged stands to uneven aged stands. Small
cutting selection and nature conservation
focused silviculture systems which are gaining
importance recently needs can be fulfilled with
these systems (Genc 2013).
Figure 9. Group selection system (URL 5)
There are some other systems in Turkey. Group
systems, coppice selection system, the coppice
with standards system and two storied high
forest systems are some of these systems. One
of the group systems is ATA group system
which is given age-height precedence for the
minority.To date every silvicultural application
on mix stands it was in favor of dominant
species. This turned mix stands to pure stands
and plant diversity under that stand changed
accordingly to changed tree species. In nature
conservation focused silviculture applications
ecosystem diversity, gene diversity, biological
diversity and wild life are important. In this
regard, ATA group system which is given age-
height precedence is one of the nature
conservation focused silviculture applications.
Discussion and Conclusion:
Incorrect silvicultural applications reduced
biological and genetic diversity of forests in
Turkey. Turning coppice forests into
plantations, afforestation applications with fast
growing species, foreign species and using non-
native species in afforestation of degraded
areas caused native species to go away from
their habitat and destroyed local species and
ecotypes. As well as usage of seed and
seedling material obtained from foreign origins
negatively affected the genetic structure (Dirik
1997). In afforestation and regeneration
applications ecologic structure should be
persevered, natural gene sources should be
used and mono culture must be avoided
(Alptekin 1996). In order to protect and
conserve our gene sources in-situ and ex-situ
Esra Bayar, Musa Genc, Fahrettin Atar, and Ibrahim Turna
419 | I n t e r n a t i o n a l C a u c a s i a n F o r e s t r y S y m p o s i u m
protection measures should be taken
(Yahyaoglu and Genc 1990; Alptekin 1996; Dirik
1997).
Silviculture includes both nature and gene
conservation. Nature focused silvicultural
applications must consider gene conservation
too (Colak 2001). In nature focused silvicultural
applications environmental factors and forest
structure must be analyzed well and illegal
utilization and grazing must be prevented.
Continuity of the forest texture and stand
resistance to abiotic harm should be increased.
Rare and endangered species must be
protected regardless of the silvicultural
application. Silvicultural applications should be
considered different stand structures and sites
(Anonymous 2006). These applications should
prefer natural regeneration and should avoid
open field clear felling since these fields are
important for conserving gene sources
(Alptekin 1996). There should be no
interference in the zone between the top of
the forest line and 50-80 (100) m below of the
top. During cutting and skidding environmental
damage to trees and to soil should be
minimized (Anonymous, 2006). In order to
increase the natural richness and diversity
open spaces in forests should be left as they
are. At least 2-3 dead trees per hectare should
be left in the forest. New forests that will be
created should have small area, different aged
trees and mosaic structure. Forest density
should be adjusted and flower rich wild flora
should be supported. Root of the fallen or
felled trees should be left in the area. In
natural stands dead trees from southern
aspect should be preferred. As a rule,
broadleaved forests 7-10, mixed forests 4-6
and coniferous forests should be left 1-3 dead
trees per hectare. Dead trees that will be
selected to be left behind in the forest should
be selected from inner parts and far from road.
Trees that host birds, insects, fungi and other
organisms shouldn’t be cut. The more diverse
tree species in a stand, the richer animal
diversity would be in that stand (Colak 2001).
Some of the new nature preservation focused
silvicultural approaches that can be found in
international articles can be applied to our
forests. Patch clear cut system, the retention
system, seed tree system, group shelterwood
system and ATA group system which are
developed for Turkey are some of these new
approaches.
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