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After its establishment, Research station in Opocno solved problems connected with management conversion from even-aged monocultures to all-aged mixed forests. In 50ties and 60ties, chief tasks of the Section of forest regeneration were conversions of spruce and pine monocultures, and conversion of clear-cutting system into selection system or shelterwood one. Series of experimental plots were established in sites with various site and forest conditions in altitude of 250 to
1,115 m a.s.l. (Experimental series established by Mr. Hugo Konias, the first director of Research station in Opocno.)
In the second half of 60ties and in 70ties, the main attention of research was paid to silviculture in conditions of increasing air pollution load. For that reason, several research series were established in the Trutnov region (NE Bohemia). During 80ties, research activities were aimed at solution of forest management problems connected with pollution damage to mountain forest ecosystems. That time, some experimental plots were established in the mountains of the Sudeten system and in the Ore Mts.
In the course of 90ties, some new reforestation problems appeared in the mountains deforested due to air pollution stress. On the base of reassessment of hitherto hypotheses and research results, these tasks were solved during the fist half of 90ties:
- prosperity of tree species potentially suitable for reforestation of the mountains
- applicability of tree species and ecotypes for silviculture in various pollution and ecological environment
- reforestation methods in clearings and disintegrating forest stands
- ecology of regeneration cuttings and conversion of substitute tree species stands
- formation of close-to-nature management methods for forests in protected areas
Research activities in the 2nd half of 90ties were connected with previous ones, and main attention was paid to the sustainable forest management formation. Experiments were performed mostly in the Sudeten Mts., Ore Mts. and Sumava Mts. The following research tasks were solved:
- natural and semi-natural regeneration of beech and mixed stands with beech
- principles of mixed stands with beech formation
- conversion of substitute tree species stands by underplanting of beech
- regeneration of beech in clearings with harsh microclimate
- underplanting methods for forest regeneration
- shelterwood system for regeneration and stand conversion into selection forest
- close-to-nature management methods for forests in especially protected areas
From 2001, Section of forest regeneration solves mainly the following problems connected with regeneration and conversion of stands impacted by anthropogenic and climatic changes:
- formation of species stand composition in specific sites according to growing conditions and required forest functions
- natural and semi-natural regeneration of beech and mixed stands with beech
- underplantings
- conversion of species composition in substitute tree species stands
- methods of the close-to-nature forest management
- afforestation and silvicultural measures in non-forest land
As a stabilizing and soil-improving part of forest ecosystem, European beech, Silver fir, and some broadleaves (Sycamore maple, Norway maple, Scotch elm, Small-leaved linden and English oak) are preferred.
Integral part of the Section of forest regeneration activities is consultative and educational work.
Staff - research workers: Stanislav Vacek (chief), Vratislav Balcar, Dušan Kacálek, Jiří Souček
Staff - technicians: Dušan Bartoš, Jarmila Mayová
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