ZLV Online

Abstract

The article deals with economic valuation of natural and artificial reforestation in four different natural and stand conditions represented by “forest management sets”, using three reforestation variants with different shares of soil-improving and stabilizing tree species, and four main types of timber harvest technologies. The research was done as a case study in a Czech private forest farm, based on reforestation and timber harvest operations costs, and natural advance growth preserving in 2009–2014. The most effective reforestation variant is natural regeneration. The most effective timber harvest technologies regarding harvest costs and natural grow preserving share are the variants using harvesters with the assortment method. On the contrary, the technologies based on chain saw, tractor, and full-length stems method are unfavourable. The only aspect that could partially reduce the shelterwood system and natural reforestation economic efficiency is the degree of near standing trees damage by the cut, and subsequent fungi attack. Nevertheless, the harvester variant is, on the whole, the most favourable, advance growth-friendly technology. It also saves costs, not only during the harvest, but also in consequent silvicultural operations, as harvesters lower the damage in the newly emerging stand.