Spatial patterns and species composition of new forest areas present challenges for forest management in Latvia

Abstract

Forest area increase has been characteristic to the Eastern Baltic region since the early twentieth century. The emergence of new forest areas in significant amounts changes the visual and ecological character of landscapes and affects forest management decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate how emerging spatial patterns and stand characteristics of new forest areas impact forests in Latvia. Four study areas were selected in Latvia – Skrunda, Bauska, Skujene and Kaunata to analyze new and stable forest areas. Inside these four areas, 27,205 forest compartments were analyzed from new forests and 93,902 compartments in stable forests for reference. New and stable forest areas were mapped for the period of 1967–2017. Latvian State Forest register database provided compartment-level characteristics for new and stable forests. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze differences in tree species composition, ownership structure and management restrictions; and GIS methods – to assess compartment accessibility by roads. Spatial pattern metrics were calculated using Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis in Guidos Toolbox 2.6. Results show that the majority of new forest areas have emerged from spontaneous afforestation, this was especially pronounced in Kaunata area (only 5% of new forest areas were planted). Scots pine, Norway spruce and two birch species comprised the majority in stable forest areas compared to new forest areas, where the proportions of dominant tree species were more evenly distributed. Spatial pattern analysis showed that the emergence of new forest areas has contributed to the homogenization of forest pattern with increasing Core area, reducing Edge and Islet (isolated patch) proportion. 93–99% of new forest areas identified in this study were not state-owned. Compartment accessibility was very good for all four study areas in Latvia, with 60–80% of stands being located closer than 500 m from roads. This study demonstrated that management of such small, spatially scattered and young forest compartments can be problematic. Since the majority or Latvia’s private forest owners’ holdings are smaller than 50 ha, the lack of resources and education as well physical factors impede successful involvement of these numerous small owners in sustainable management efforts.