1. Project financed by the European Union
Development of Afforestation Programs and their Implementation 3) Technical aspects
Project financed by the European Union

2. Project financed by the European Union
Contents
Strategic considerations
Decision making process
Technical aspects
Project financed by the European Union

5. Project financed by the European Union
Site Preparation
Site preparation measures aim at the creation of an environment that allows/supports natural or artificial regeneration. Hence, only those measures should be carried out, which are inevitable and which are of major importance for the survival of the regeneration. Existing trees and shrubs should not be removed, except invasive exotic species.
Deadwood should be kept, because of its high ecological value.
Removal of vegetation should be limited to a minimum
Project financed by the European Union

6. Project financed by the European Union
Total area cleaning through and ploughing
Common practice in the past
From ecological as well as from economical perspective
questionable ( on heavy soils destruction of microstructure
of soil)
Recommendable only on sandy, light soil to prevent
vigorous grass growth
Project financed by the European Union

7. Project financed by the European Union
Spot cleaning
Vegetation is removed in a small area immediately before planting
Recommended as environmentally
friendly and cost effectice
Project financed by the European Union

8. Project financed by the European Union
Selection species composition
In case the silvicultural aim is establishment of stands showing a mixture of species the following aspects have to be considered:
growing rhythm of the species (slow or
high juvenile growth)
tolerance regarding shade
Project financed by the European Union

9. Project financed by the European Union

10. Project financed by the European Union
Single tree
mixture
Row-wise
mixture
Group-wise mixture
Each group 20-40m in diameter
Project financed by the European Union

11. Project financed by the European Union
Spacing
Narrow spacing increases costs and requires tending measures, sometimes beating-up will not be necessary
Wider spacing does not use the space fully, beating up necessary.
Countries have own standards (3000/ha)
Project financed by the European Union

12. Project financed by the European Union

13. Project financed by the European Union
Forest reproductive material
Seeds
Wild saplings (collected from neighbouring natural regeneration, used for enrichment planting
Bare root seedlings (produced in open-air nurseries)
Container plants (produced in containers, sometimes in greenhouses, very safe way of producing seedlings)
Project financed by the European Union

14. Project financed by the European Union
Selection of provenances
Due to the sometimes large spatial distribution of tree
species different populations develop which are adapted to
the specific ecological conditions
It is important to use material only that is derived from seed sources that had grown under similar ecological conditions as exist at the afforestation site (lowland provenances, high-land provenances)
Project financed by the European Union

15. Above:
Field trial for the selection of birch progenies showing good morphological features like straightness of the stem

16. Project financed by the European Union
Quality of forest reproductive material
The survival rate depends on the quality of seedlings
Only those plants should be used that show high quality root system, a good root to shoot ratio (large plants show problems with regard to survival)
Production of forest reproductive material needs means of proper supervision and quality control.
Sometimes it is advisable to discuss and negotiate the production and provision of forest reproductive material with the nurseries beforehand, so that they can produce on demand.
Project financed by the European Union

17. Project financed by the European Union
Example from Germany
Act on Forest Reproductive Material (Issued 22May 2002
The production and marketing of forest reproductive material is subject to the Act on Forest Reproductive Material.
The purpose of this act is to maintain and improve the forests and is genetic diversity by providing high quality forest reproductive material with secured identity as well as to promote the forestry and its performance.
Project financed by the European Union

18. After selection of species the availability of seedlings and delineation of area the availability of seedlings will be checked, whether the nurseries can provide material of
Right provenance
High quality
Sufficient Amount

19. Project financed by the European Union
Planting technique
Planting technique has to be chosen inter alia with regard to the following criteria:
tree species (kind of root formation),
soil type,
size of plant,
ergonomic situation (tools…)
Project financed by the European Union

20. Angle planting Hole planting
The seedling is put into a gap which has been
created be use of planting hoes.
Advantages:
The soil will be opened only as much as
necessary.
Soil bedding remains undisturbed, leading to
good water supply. No risk of freezing out
No need for intensive site preparation
High performance
Disadvantages:
Limitations of the seedling’s height
Risk of root deformations
Planting in holes prepared by spades
or drilling machines
Roots in vertical upright position
No restriction towards seedling’s height
Plants not well fixed
Excavated material dried out,
When seedlings will be planted in dry
substrate, irrigation necessary

21. Project financed by the European Union
Hole-planting
Project financed by the European Union

22. Project financed by the European Union
Planting equipment
Project financed by the European Union

23. Project financed by the European Union
Maintenance
Beating-up (replacing trees that have died)
Weeding
Maintenance of protective measures
Project financed by the European Union

24. Project financed by the European Union
Weeding
Evaluate the necessity, as vegetation coverage could have both positive and negative impacts.
Positive effects are reduction of wind and erosion.
Negative effects could be competition for light or covering and surprising through snow.
Negative effects are very seldom, only in cases of aggressive vegetation (Calamagrostis, Dechampsia, Rubus.).
Mechanical weeding leads to short time advantages only. More often negative effects have to be observed (Transpiration).
Project financed by the European Union

25. Project financed by the European Union
Protection
Local conditions may require that the afforestation site is protected against game or livestock
This could be done either by fencing or individual tree protection
Project financed by the European Union

26. Project financed by the European Union

27. Project financed by the European Union
Nice, but not very
efficient
Project financed by the European Union

28. Project financed by the European Union
Barb-wire, where
Livestock is a
big threat
Project financed by the European Union

29. Project financed by the European Union
Individual-tree protection
Project financed by the European Union

30. Project financed by the European Union
Protection
Complete Fencing : depending on the shape of the afforestation site, exclusion of livestock or game
Group fencing: Fencing of groups /per ha, allows grazing on parts of the area
Individual tree protection: favourable in case of unfavourable shape, allows grazing between the trees
Project financed by the European Union

31. Conclusion and outlook Project financed by the European Union
The main idea is to collect existing experiences to develop
a sound concept for afforestation.
Having considered strategic elements and technical aspects
the elaboration of the financing concept will be possible.
Project financed by the European Union

32. Project financed by the European Union
Prepared by
Oliver Scholz
Rolf Schulzke
Project financed by the European Union