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Forest ground vegetation biomass plays a significant role in carbon (C) storage and contributes to the overall carbon pool of forest ecosystems. Ground vegetation, including understory plants, shrubs, and grasses, not only affects carbon sequestration through photosynthesis but also contributes to the carbon cycle as it decomposes and release carbon into atmosphere and soil. This process adds to soil organic matter and affects it carbon dynamics. Understanding the above and below-ground biomass of forest ground ve...

Broadleaved forest distribution in Europe and in Latvia is relatively small. Small-leaved lime Tilia cordata Mill. stands are even rarer, so it is important to study and protect them, as well as to assess their biodiversity and future potential. The aim of research is to investigate and assess the vegetation in lime forest stands. In total, 12 plots have been established for long-term monitoring of lime stands. In the sample plots, the survey of growing trees, dead wood, the inventory of vegetation species and the...

Forest ecosystems are essential when dealing with climate change mitigation goals. Carbon stock of forest stand can hold substantial amounts of carbon as well products made from wood provide substitution effect, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Silvicultural practices, such as drainage, have proven to be highly efficient of enhancing tree volume, aligning with climate change mitigation goals. As forest drainage disruption for rewetting of drained areas gains momentum with appealing goals such as enhancing biolog...

Forests play an important role in carbon storage and global carbon cycling. The processes of litter decomposition, movement within the soil, and incorporation into different soil layers play a crucial role in the functioning of forest ecosystems. These activities are important in regulating the cycling of soil organic matter and the storage and release of carbon into the atmosphere. Soil carbon and carbon input via litter has been well-recognized, however studied relatively less compared to other carbon pools, but...

Birch (Betula spp.) has a notable financial value and is less affected by most significant biotic factors than common coniferous tree species, however, still prone to wind and freezing rain damages. Main storms affect Northern Europe during winter (when trees are at leaf-less state), however it might change as the climate is warming and length of the vegetation period is increasing. Therefore information on wind damages in birch stands during this period is important. Aim of our study was to assess the damages cau...

European aspen (Populus tremula L.) is fast growing, almost exclusively naturally regenerated trees species, significant for biodiversity, but also with notable financial value. It is prone to browsing damages and rot. Limited information on traits important to wind resistance had been collected so far and used to adapt models predicting wind damages in stands of these tree species. Main storms affect Northern Europe during winter time (when trees are at leaf-less state), however, summer storms are becoming freque...

The research aim is to estimate the profit a forest owner can earn per full forest rotation cycle from forest stands of dominant coniferous species in Latvia, selling both the assortment of logs and biomass (BM) from final felling. The research analysed the situation in privately managed forests, composed of the coniferous species пїЅ Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) and Scots pine (Pinus syllvestris L.) пїЅ in different forest types in Latvia. The calculation of revenue from forest product sales took into account b...

The research aim is to identify a financial gain a forest owner can make from the management of a deciduous forest stand in Latvia provided that the stand is logged at the final (clear) felling age and the revenue is earned selling the wood as roundwood assortments and residue biomass or only as biomass (BM). The present research analysed the situation with forests owned by natural persons of the Republic of Latvia and identified the amounts of revenue a forest owner can earn growing deciduous пїЅ birch, black ald...