Assessment of forests planted in private land

Abstract

European Union Rural Development Program for 2007–2013 supports afforestation of non forest land. About 800 million litas will be allocated according to this program. About 2000 ha of forests are established with support of this program every year (Mi ko, 2010). On 2009 an inventory of such newly established forests in Zarasai district was made. The results showed that 366.37 ha forests were planted with funds from EU. They were planted on land of markedly different soil productivity – score of productivity differs from 18 till 48. An average score of land productivity is 33.5. 31.1 % of forests planted in poor lands (less then 32 points) and on fertile lands – 68.9%. Structure of new planted forests in Zarasai district on 2005-2009 is 36% - spruce, 35% - birch, 19% - pine, 10% - other species. However, forest structure in the district is different: 58% - pine, 18% - spruce, 16% - birch, 8% - other species. Growth of forest plantations is mainly affected by soil type and grass cover (Bartkevičius et al., 2008)