Close-to-nature Forest Landscape Planning Based On Potential Natural Vegetation

A general forest landscape planning method was presented which is based on potential natural vegetation and multiple forest management objectives. The study area is located at Jingouling forest farm of Wangqing forestry bureau in Jilin province. The research included: current forest landscape structure analysis, investigation of potential natural vegetation, development and solution of linear programming model, survey and analysis of biotope, and forest development type design. The main conclusions were as follows:(1) On the basis of land-use type, stand origin and dominant tree species, forest landscape pattern in Jingouling forest farm was analysed within the framework of two-level classification of landscape components. It is concluded that, woodland was the main matrix of the region, which played a leading role and dominated the overall structure of the landscape. However, human disturbance had a great impact on the landscape structure of the study area, and the fragmentation of landscape was dramatic. Therefore, it is recommended to adjust the forest landscape structure of the study area, to gradually restore the climax forest communities in a close-to-nature way which advised by potential natural vegetation.(2) Considering site condition, forest successional stage and referring to literatures of potential vegetation simulation of the northeastern region within climate change scenarios, the local potential natural vegetation types are identified as: Korean pine broad-leaved forest, mixed broad-leaved forest, mixed spruce-fir forest and Mongolia oak forest. Areas of different age classes of potential natural vegetation types were used as decision variables to establish the linear programming model. Standing stock, above-ground carbon storage and tree species diversity were considered as management objectives while altitude and topography were taken as constraints. Solutions of models are reasonable with respect to forest ecology. Forest landscape planning based on the potential natural vegetation is regarded as a feasible method.(3) The stand development stages were divided into competitive growth stage, transitional stage between competition and quality differentiation stage, quality differentiation stage and close-to-nature forest stage. The method is based on investigation of biotope and potential natural vegetation within close-to-nature forestry theory. The recent forest management practices were pointed out for different development stage respectively. On this basis, a case study of forest development type design was accomplished. According to biotope of the forest, community successional stages, target forest landscape types were settled (potential natural vegetation) . In accordance with silvicultural needs (including a variety of forest products and services), species composition, regeneration objectives and forest management technique are also set. It is possible to meet economical, ecological and social needs for human being with forest development type design.