Spatio-temporal forest harvesting in Dzukija National Park (Lithuania)

Abstract

Forest harvesting negatively impacts ecosystems and increases land degradation, especially when this work is done using heavy machinery. This study aims to map the spatio-temporal distribution of forest harvesting in a protected area in Lithuania, the Dzukija National Park. The felling areas were plotted from orthophoto imagery, and felling types were differentiated. The results show a non-linear increase in the annual area harvested from 2000 to 2018 and a shift in the contribution of each type of felling over time. With time, forest harvest became less damaging (thinning and partial cuts compared to clear or almost clear cuts). Overall, the management is becoming more sustainable, although forest harvest should be limited in Protected Areas.