Analysis of thinning programs application in the Leningrad region

Sammanfattning: This paper aims at investigating a possible applicability of a Swedishforest growth simulator “ProdMod” in conditions of North-West Russia. The resultfrom ProdMod was based on materials from The Series of Stationary ExperimentalObjects and particularly section 1 “Development of Stands Not Touched BySilvicultural Activity”.Results of forecast by ProdMod are compared with stands developmentobserved on sample plots. Basal area and volume development are two crucialparameters in the comparisons. ProdMod shows quite good results, but there aresome dissimilarities in volume development. It is concluded that this program can beuseful in conditions of North-West Russia, but still it requires some corrections.Possible successful thinning programs (from economic point of view) areevaluated. The 6 thinning programs with different intensities and frequencies ofthinning were investigated in stands with different tree species composition. Theprogram with “flexible” thinning schedule for each stand shows the highest resultsincase of NPV. There isn’t a universal program, which shows only highest results forall parameters. Each program has its strong and weak sides. Despite good results,some of successful thinning programs can hardly be applied in North-West Russiadue to the features of Russian forest sector and thinning rules.