Do We Need protective Plantations Along Railways (Lithuanian Case Study)?

Abstract

Differently to other European countries Lithuania has inherited from Soviet time period quite width protection zones of state importance with wooden plantations along railways. Those protection zones vary from 20 m (in cities) up to 45 -70 m (in rural areas). In total planted of spontaneous wooden plantation occupy over 2 thous. ha. The status of protective plantations serve for multifunctional purposes by ensuring railway traffic safety, mitigating negative impact of railway traffic, exhibiting Lithuanian landscape image for travellers, improving landscape connectivity, living and working environment welfare. At the same there is a challenge for proper management and profitability. Most of during Soviet time planted pioneer species reach or is going to reach mature age. There is increasing the threat of dangerous trees, ensuring continuous cover of protective plantations, continuous services and structure satisfaction of predominating function. This study presents the challenges for future development and society preferences to services of protective plantations along railways. The results of analysis of present condition of railway lineside vegetation, as well the results of social survey showed, what it is not enough just to manage the dangerous trees for railway safeness but it is essential complex means for protective plantations development, services succession. The study was carried out on the frame of research work ordered by JSC “Centre of railway environment protection” in 2015-2016."