DEER BROWSING IS ONE OF THE LIMITING FACTORS OF CONVERSION TO UNEVEN AGED FOREST

We can see distinct growing importance of non-wood-producing functions in forestry recently. Selection uneven aged system is one of the alternatives in which these functions are on the high level. Selection systems are generally considered to be more challenging to implement and maintain than even-aged silviculture. For the proper functioning of selection system or conversion to this system is essential to have natural regeneration. We focused on the progress and growth of the natural regeneration of fir, spruce and beech in different light conditions in selected stands in the conversion to a selection forest at Training Forest Enterprise Masaryk Forest Krtiny. Based on the statistically evaluated data we found a negative impact of ungulates on growth of main tree species from natural regeneration. Deer browsing is one of the main limiting factors of natural regeneration in the transformation to selection system at this locality.