Evaluation of tree species composition and comparison of costs required for the forest regeneration between really used and model species composition in the areas affected by Spruce Dieback

Large forested areas exhibit a Norway spruce dieback in the Czech Republic. Foresters being faced this disaster need to change tree species composition of new stands. The objective of this study is the assessment of forest regeneration costs at study sites in Northern and Central Moravia (Czech Republic) investigated in 2008-2017. For that purpose we used the data recorded by the state enterprise Forests of the Czech Republic, including information about operations carried out in the regenerated stands that led to their establishment. The data were also divided according to ecological series and certain forest altitudinal zone. Based on the output standards we calculated the regeneration costs including the following silvicultural treatment of the really used species composition, and the costs of a potential regeneration and the following silvicultural treatment of the model species composition comparable with the target tree composition. The results confirmed higher costs on site regeneration where the species composition is more varied and supports ecological stability. However, this species composition requires a more intensive forest management than model species composition favouring mostly Norway spruce. © 2020 Forestry and Game Management Research Institute.