Regush N. Uneven-aged beech forests on the southwestern side of Ukrainian Carpathians: stand structure and inventory

Object of the research - uneven-aged beech forests on the southwestern side of Ukrainian Carpathians in three forest categories. The aim of the study was to identify structural features of uneven-aged beech forests on the southwestern side of Ukrainian Carpathians using technologies and methods of forest inventory. Research methods of forestry and forest inventory, dendrochronology, visual interpretation as well as statistical methods were used. The main theoretical principles of the research, determining the scientific novelty are as follows: four forest structure types based on the gap fraction in the canopy cover using very high resolution remote sensing data (WorldView-2) were detected. Multinomial logistical regression was adapted to classify and predict this four forest structure types with overall accuracy of 86 %. Features of stand structure of uneven-aged beech forests in three forest categories were identified. Breast high diameter (DBH) distribution in uneven-aged beech forest stands is affected by forest management regimes and can be characterized by reverse S-shaped, reverse J-shaped and U-shaped with right symmetry forms. Probability of damage of lover part of beech steam with rottenness is significantly higher after the thee age of 210 years and is no related to forest categories. Practical significance. The results of the study provide additional information on the complex of the structural variability of the uneven-aged beech forests and its application for a sustainable management of beech forest ecosystems. Methodological aspects and practical results of the study (parameters and features of stand structure of uneven-aged beech forests, assessing of forest heterogeneity using very high resolution remote sensing data) were implemented in Carpathian biosphere reserve and state organization of forest management and forest inventory of Lviv region. Some research results of the thesis are used by study process in Ukrainian National Forestry University. Area of application - forest inventory and forest management.