BIODIVERSITY EVALUATION PS THE FRAMEWORK OF FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS

Biodiversity values are not always considered correctly in the forest management plans. This study aims at elaborating a methodological concept on the measurement and assessment of "biodiversity" as a non productive forest functions" and including them in the decision making process of management. The proposed approach cansistutes this theoretical background on which an analytical and practical inventory and evaluation procedure for the non-timber forest functions is built. Biodiversity assessment is done considering species diversity and ecological diversity of plant communities. The three target systems provide for derivation of appropriate variables to he invemoried for the selected function (biodiversity preservation). Evaluation of external factors leads to a division of the forest area into homogenous zones of similar function potentials and provides for appropriate land use planning measures at landscape level. Evaluation of the internal factors results in a grouping of the forest stands into groups with similar characteristics and provides for appropriate sylvicultural measures to improve stand performance with respect to the function (biodiversity preservation). Evaluation of biodiversity identifies those stands having particularly high biodiversity values that need to be preserved and therefore carefully treated during forest management activities.