PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF DECIDUOUS HARDWOODS STANDS IN NORTH-WESTERN SPAIN: A BASIS FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The climax vegetation that currently covers the north-western Spain is the deciduous hardwoods forests characterized by different oak species. Galician oaks present a wide-ranging range of ages and qualities, as a result of the different uses and status of conservation. Many of these forests were intensively exploited, and in many cases inappropriate management practices have been applied. However, today these forests comprise a habitat of interest to the European Community and should be conserved, remain basic, in many areas to implement sustainable rural development. Common oak forests (Quercus robur L.) occupy an area of 246,445 ha in Galicia, 18 % of the total forest area. The current location of a lot of oak stands in steep zones indicates that they have remained in such areas from immemorial times because it was not possible the harvesting and these stands are now very important in ecological and landscape terms. The best sites for Quercus robur correspond to zones where the climatic characteristics combine optimally higher minimum temperature, lower thermal amplitude and higher precipitation. Known the present silvicultural status of these forests, alternative methods must be proposed for its management, which will range from a conversion to high forest to recovery of the most deteriorated stands by reforestation.