In the study the growth and stem quality characters of geographically different Latvian Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations were evaluated. In various regions of Latvia proportionally to the distribution of Scots pine 21 sample plot was established in 85 to 95 years old pure stands in forest type Myrtillosa growing conditions. In every sample plot 100 trees were evaluated estimating height of the tree, diameter at breast height, stem volume, length and quality of the branch-free stem section, relative branch thickness, branch angle and stem straightness. Pine populations were compared in different seed zones (Western and Eastern), as well as in various regions (Western, Central, South-eastern, North-eastern). In order to describe the geographical differences of populations with help of growth features, tree height was chosen because the relation between height and stem quality features is positive. The populations of the Eastern seed zone substantially overcome the populations of the Western seed zone both in terms of growth features, as well as in stem quality. Substantial are also differences between populations growing in various regions in terms of average height, length and quality of branch-free stem section, relative branch thickness and branch angle, but not stem straightness. Western populations present the lowest growth feature values and stem quality. The height and stem quality features of the North-eastern populations considerably exceeded the features of other regions' populations.

The productivity and quality of different origin Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) progenies at the age of 43 were estimated. The investigation was carried out in 1964. The seeds from six stands growing on mineral and peaty soils in different environmental conditions were sowed. The thinning was done in 2006. The following growth and quality characters were investigated: height of the trees, diameter at breast height, stem volume, standing volume, branch free tree length, branch thickness, branch angle, stem’s straightness. The growth and quality differences of the progenies depending on the seed origin were estimated. The environmental conditions of the Zvirgzde origin place and the test locality were similar. The progeny of the Zvirgzde stand showed superiority in the growth traits (height, diameter, stem volume) as well as good stem quality and high quality of the assortment outcome in thinning. The progeny of the swamp stand (Tireli) had low values in all investigated traits. A significant influence of the environmental conditions of the seeds origin place on the growth and quality of the progeny was found out. Environmental conditions of seeds origin locality and place of forest regeneration have to be similar to avoid decrease of progeny stand’s growth and quality.

This research deals with tendencies of growth of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) Karst. during last 50 years (1960 – 2010) in eastern part of Latvia emphasizing trendal specificity of active periods during the first (t1: 1960-1985) and the second (t2: 1986-2010) time interval. There have been 150 superior stand trees bored in six mixed pine-spruce Pinus sylvestris L. – Picea abies (L.) H.Karst. stands. An active period of factor’s impact is the time span when some meteorological factor (decade average, minimal or maximal temperature and sum of decade precipitation) influences an increase of annual ring width significantly. Comparing average temperatures from two weather stations included in this research the difference between interval t1 and t2 is approximately 1 °C. Active periods of temperature impact on growth of Norway spruce in eastern part of Latvia during last decades have changed not only their location but also an impact direction from positive to negative. Minimal and maximal decade temperatures are those mostly determinating the radial growth of Norway spruce in the eastern part of Latvia. Interval t2 is quite rich in active periods both from minimal and maximal decade temperature. Research results prove hypothesis about trendal shift of meteorological factors’ impact active periods due to climate change. An increase in decade precipitation level in winter caused annual ring growth positively both in the interval t1 as well as in t2.

Distribution and status of common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) in Lithuanian Pine stands are investigated in the study. The research was conducted in pure pine stands on sites with normal humidity and poor fertility in South – South Eastern parts of Lithuania. 40 stands were selected for data collection. Temporary rectangular sample plots with area of 10 square m were selected. According to method of underbrush evaluation, diameter root neck level, height and state index was measured for 3 juniper individuals located near the centre of sample plots. The number of sample plots depended on the area of each stand, but it was not lower than 10 in each stand. Average diameter of junipers was 3.03 cm, average height – 2.03 m. It was determined that average density of juniper individuals is 5055 individuals per hectare, and separately in vacciniosum and vaccinio – myrtilosum forest types - 4844 and 5282 individuals per hectare respectively. Average state index of juniper individuals in 6 grade scale was 2.96, which is near to grade 3 (slightly damaged). Results of the study show that distribution, status and dendrometric characteristics of junipers are different in adjacent regions of pine provenance.

According to the forecast, in future the number of storms in Latvia is going to increase. The wind and the snow are risk factors influencing damages of forests; the least tolerant species against wind damages is Picea abies (L.) Karst. It is impossible to avoid the damages caused by weather conditions – windbreaks, windthrows, snowbreaks, snow crushes and snowthrows in forests, since they reoccur in certain periods of time. The aim of the research was to analyze the impact of abiotic risk factors on the management of young Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands. Young stands of Norway spruce were researched in all regions of Latvia in 2011 and 2012. These stands were up to 40 years old. In total, 75 stands were measured and surveyed, and 257 sample plots were arranged, where the following damages were identified: frost damages, snow crushes, snowbreaks, snowthrows, windfall and windthrows. The sample plot method was used. The intensity of damages is higher on drained soils. The linear correlation between occurrence and intensity of impact damages caused by abiotic factors was significant (r = 0.988 is greater than r0.05 = 0.253). There is no significant (p = 0.686 is greater than α = 0.05) difference between the intensity of impact damages caused by abiotic risk factors in the stands with regular and irregular shapes of forest compartments. Irregular form forest plots have formed naturally, occurrence of abiotic factors there is 7.5% but the factor intensity – 6.7% and that is higher than in regular forest plots where abovementioned parameters reach 4.7% and 2.9%.

The interest in stumps has increased with recent boost of the bioenergy in Europe. Fuel yield from stumps can be as high as from harvesting residues. The most valuable areas for stump extraction are spruce and pine stands on dry mineral soils. In Finland the utilization of stumps for energy is rapidly moving from the testing phase to forest practice. In 2005 the use of stump wood chips by heating and power plants totalled 0.4 mill. m**3, tripled the consumption of 2004, which corresponds to 14% of the total consumption of forest chips in Finland. Extensive whole-tree harvesting trials in Sweden demonstrate that removal of stumps and slash from clear-felled sites has a strong positive impact on natural forest regeneration. Results from Finland indicate that stump and slash removal can improve productivity and quality of subsequent re-planting of harvested forest sites. The majority of available studies on root rot control demonstrate that subsequent forest regeneration is more successful on sites where the stumps have been removed. The scope of this study was to evaluate quality of forest regeneration after stump extraction in Finland according to the national regulations in Latvia. Number, size, distribution and mortality of seedlings were estimated in 15 compartments. Additionally, moisture and compaction of soils were determined. Results of the study approved that regeneration of forest stands on fertile mineral soils after stump extraction was successful and combination of mounding with scarification during stump extraction provides sufficient growing conditions for new seedlings.

It is essential to have information on the tree biomass due to the fact that it is an important ecosystem pool for reporting changes in carbon stocks of forests and increased attempts to diversify the energy sources. In Latvia, comparatively few studies have focused on this topic so far. Our study was conducted on two 36 - 38 years old Norway spruce plantations. Detailed stem analysis of 39 trees was performed, and biomass of the above-ground tree components was determined. We analyzed tree and clone-level biomass distribution, biomass relations with tree dimensions and dependence on the genetic factors. The mean total biomass (kg d.w.) of all analyzed sample trees was 131.4 ± 10.58 kg, the mean biomass of stem 85.9 ± 6.98 kg, the mean biomass of dead branches 8.3 ± 0.82 kg, the mean biomass of living branches 23.5 ± 2.34 kg and the mean biomass of needles 13.7 ± 1.22 kg. On average, 66.1% of biomass was allocated to the stem, 6.4% to the dead branches, 17.4% to the living branches and 10.1% to the needles. The biomass of the analyzed trees positively correlated with all tested tree parameters - DBH, tree height, stem volume. Typically, with increasing tree parameters total biomass and stem biomass increased rapidly but branch and needle biomass increased slowly. Significant differences of tree dimensions were detected between the clones, and the differences in total biomass and stem biomass were clearly correlated with the differences in tree dimensions over clones. No significant impact of the clone was found specifically on the tree biomass or its distribution.

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) is amongst the most important tree species for forestry in Latvia. It has been suggested that due to the foreseen climate change the productivity of Norway spruce in Latvia may decrease. Continuous observations of radial increment allow to identify periods with different growth intensity and to study the effect of environmental conditions on radial increment during them. The aim of this study was to analyse stem radial variation of Norway spruce in mixed-species stand in response to meteorological conditions over one growing season. Stem radial variation of one Norway spruce tree was monitored by band dendrometer throughout the growing season of 2013. Cumulative radial increment was divided into contraction, recovery and increment phases by the stem cycle approach. Four periods with distinct apportionment of these phases were identified – winter/spring dormancy, spring/ summer growth, growth termination and autumn hydration fluctuations. Radial increment began in the second part of May and the most active increment was observed during period of spring/summer growth. This period lasted for 42 days with the mean amplitude of stem radial variations reaching 0.06 mm while the length of increment phase reached up to two days. Throughout the growing season increment was facilitated by an increase in the temperature. Meanwhile, the effect of precipitation was insignificant, presumably due to sufficient water availability and low interspecies competition for it, characteristic in mixed species stands due to differences in depth and distribution of root systems between the species.

Drainage ensures flow of water and access of oxygen to the roots of the trees. Therefore, melioration systems have been established in a third of the forest area of Latvia, and for the most part highly productive stands can be observed in these areas. Water flow in these systems is often stopped by beaver dams. The aim of our case study was to assess the impact of ditch reconstruction on the increment of the coniferous trees. Increment cores were collected from 169 trees at a distance up to 45 m from the ditch in the drainage system that was reconstructed 8 years prior. Drainage system reconstruction reversed the trend of declining radial increment for both Scots pine and Norway spruce; however, the influence of this measure over an 8 year period was statistically significant, notable (55%) and positive only for Norway spruce, growing closest to the edge of the ditch. Other growth limiting factors need to be considered and tackled to ensure the highest effect of the investment in drainage system reconstruction, including choice of the tree species, stand density, age, and availability of nutrients.

Browsing damages are becoming more common due to almost doubling of population densities of cervids in Latvia during last 20 years; however, the figures are still lower than those observed in western and northern European countries. Consequently, the frequency of damages in young stands is increasing, too. Protection against browsing becomes more difficult, as the trees grow older; also the bark-stripping may result in a long-term deterioration of stem quality. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the factors affecting bark striping damages in pole-stage Norway spruce stands. Data were collected in 4 sample plots in damaged Norway spruce stands in western Latvia, measuring the tree parameters: height, diameter, branch characteristics and damage parameters: size, proportion from the stem circumference. Results of the modelling reveal that both damage parameters were significantly influenced by the branch length and thickness in the whorl closest to the breast height and the size of damages – also by breast height diameter of the tree. It suggests that increasing productivity of trees would not reduce the browsing problem. Since the silvicultural goal is the reduction of the size of branches, especially in bottom-log of the stem, protection against bark-stripping needs to be developed and cervid population densities controlled to reduce the problem.