MEASURES AFTER WINDTHROW IN SLOVENIAN FORESTS BEETWEEN 11 AND 13 DECEMBER 2017

Abstract

Due to high winds and heavy rain during 11-13 December 2017, Slovenian forests were damaged by windthrow. One fifth of Slovenian forests were severely damaged, or in total 2.2 million m³ of trees, mostly conifers (90%). The most damaged forests were in the regions of Kočevje, Notranjska and Koroška. The Slovenia Forest Service (SFS) adapted its work for the fast and efficient rehabilitation of the damaged forests and has prepared a rehabilitation plan, which is the basis for the implementation of the salvage harvesting and restoration of the damaged forests. The purpose of this article is to present the necessary salvage harvesting of the forests, the priorities in its implementation, and experiences with clearing the windthrown trees. The main priorities in the clearing of windthrow in the forests are to ensure safety during logging operations, to establish the usability of the forest roads and reconstruct the forest infrastructure, to perform salvage harvest in forests endangered by bark beetle and to prevent secondary damage by bark beetles, which will start to develop on broken conifer trees with the onset of warm weather. After harvesting the damaged trees, the rehabilitation of the windthrown forests will be continued over the next five years with rejuvenation, tending and protection measures in the forests. The total value of the planned work for the clearing of the forests damaged by windthrow is 7 million EUR.