Comparison of different forest regeneration methods after windthrow

The prosperity of various forest regeneration methods was evaluated on the prepared windthrow area established in 2010 in a previously allochthonous coniferous stand growing in mid-elevations of the Czech Republic. The forest regeneration variants were as follows: (1) "planting" of target species ( Picea abies [L.] Karst.) and Fagus sylvatica (L.), (2) "seeding" of pioneer (non target) species ( Betula pendula Roth) and (3) spontaneous "succession". Two years after windthrow the "planting" was evaluated in accordance with the Czech forestry law as regeneration method with sufficient attributes, density (6,000-9,000 indd·ha -1 ) and regular spatial distribution of target tree species. The "seeding" and "succession" variants showed a insufficient attributes of target tree species-total density ca 3,000 indd·ha -1 (being ca 1,000 indd·ha -1 higher than 20 cm) and irregular distribution across the plot. The non-target species birch on the "seeding" variant showed a high density of plants (131,000 indd·ha -1 ) being eight times higher than the succession variant. The cost of the regeneration treatment was different between the variants-planting: 5,000-6,000 EUR·ha -1 , 1,300 EUR·ha -1 , succession: 1,000 EUR·ha -1 . Comparing to "planting" the higher diversity of tree species and higher density of non-target species (20,000-134,000 EUR·ha -1 ) in the "seeding" and "succession" variants promise success for the future, however the real potential of regeneration methods that were used will be clear after long-term observations.