Structural characteristics of old-growth forest of silver fir and beech at Biogradska Gora

This paper presents the results of a study on the structural characteristics of mixed old-growth silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in Biogradska Gora, Montenegro, one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe. In terms of diameter structure studied forests are characterized by a slightly lower tree density per unit area compared to created normal modes, showed a significant shortage of silver fir trees in the lowest diameter classes. However, the presence of large-diameter trees resulted in the dominance of fir in terms of height structure, as well as a higher total growing stock compared to the theoretical norms. The average growing stock of 931.5 m³ ha-1 has been determined, with an annual volume increment of 10.14 m³ ha-1. Understanding the fundamental characteristics of untouched forests provides an invaluable contribution to expanding knowledge about the complex nature of forests and offers a basis for close-to-nature forest management, which represents the main adaptive approach to forest management under climate change conditions. Research on such forests contributes to a better understanding of environmental changes and the conservation of biodiversity.