Statistical Analysis for Structure and Regeneration Responses of Degraded Forests towards Quality Improvement

Abstract

s. Degraded forests are characterized by decrease in canopy cover density and tree growth; thus, the term degradation implies a loss of forest structure, productivity and regeneration. The decrease is often a consequence of high-grading selection cutting, which means removal of highest quality wood which reduce overall stand quality, illegal felling, and natural disturbance. All these factors result in the loss of ecological integrity of a forest and hasten the degradation process. This presentation introduces the study on structure and dynamic of degraded forests using three examples of typical degraded forests from the tropics of Hainan, the warm temperate zone of Beijing, and the temperate forest in Northeastern city Haerbin. Factors and variables of successional stage, canopy type and regeneration tendency of the degraded forests are analyzed, and operation measures for improving quality and growth of these forests are designed based on findings of the analysis. Preliminary data from improvement operation shows clear positive responses of trees and stands from the improvement operation.