Stand Density Management Diagrams for two Mediterranean pine species in Eastern Spain

P Valbuena,F Bravo,C Del Peso

doi:10.5424/srf/2008172-01026

Abstract

Stand Density Management Diagrams are useful tools for designing, displaying and evaluating alternative density management regimes in even-aged stands, with which to achieve a desired future stand condition. The stands studied, of Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinaster, have low productivity, and managers need easy, efficient tools to obtain the best yield. These diagrams help the managers of these stands determine thinning prescriptions. The relationship between stand density, dominant height, quadratic mean diameter and stand volume is represented in just one graph. Two equations were fitted simultaneously: one that relates quadratic mean diameter with stand density and dominant height, and another that relates total stand volume with quadratic mean diameter, stand density and dominant height.

Highlights

Forest managers in low productivity areas, as in Mediterranean basin and other dry regions, face society demands as timber and fuelwood production, wildlife conservation leisure areas or adequate landscape management under strong budget limitations
Our objective is to develop Stand Density Management Diagrams (SDMDs) for Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinaster Mediterranean even-aged stands in Eastern Spain, to help foresters decission making process in a cost effective way
The R2 adjusted for the validation data set are over 0.69 for the quadratic mean diameter model and Adjust and analysis

Summary

Introduction

Forest managers in low productivity areas, as in Mediterranean basin and other dry regions, face society demands as timber and fuelwood production, wildlife conservation leisure areas or adequate landscape management under strong budget limitations. Foresters adopt extensive silviculture approaches that include limitate thinning operations, use of natural regeneration and avoid any intervention that can not be self-financed. Fire is considered one of the basic problems for Mediterranean forests, while adequate silviculture (regulation of stand density) is one of the main tools to prevent catastrophic fires (Scarascia-Mungoza et al, 2000), and keeping the stand at a correct stand density level can reduce the impact and frequency of fires. Mediterranean forests usually have low productivity, and this factor can be one of the reasons for the low-cost management. Stand density regulation is the tool the forester use to control the level of growing stock to target different specific management objectives (Newton, 1997). Adequate stand density levels determination is a difficult task that involves biological, technological, economical and operational factors drive by species, site and management frameworks (purposes, budget, technical background, ...)

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