baumzaehlen - Primeval Forests & Their Trees

Stužica National Nature Reserve, Slovakia

The Stužica National Nature Reserve is a part of Poloniny National Park and from 2007 a part of Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians World Heritage Area. It covers 7.6 km ² , consists of one whole mountain valley and is located in the easternmost corner of Slovakia.

Most of the forest is genuine primeval forest ¹ , but in the vicinity of Stužica Rieka (creek) there are a few overgrown meadows and a long ago abandoned road. Nor is the easternmost part of the reserve primeval ² . Due to the presence of predators, particularly wolf, herbivore populations are much lower than in Western Europe ¹ , and this can be seen from a plentiful regeneration of Abies alba (European silver fir).

Tree identification is very easy. The main tree species are Fagus sylvatica (European beech), Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore maple) and A. alba . Fagus is dominant everywhere. With increasing altitude, the proportion of A. pseudoplatanus increases but the proportion of A. alba decreases. On the north-facing slope the undergrowth is very sparse but on the opposite slope more abundant. The tree-line is at 1150-1200 m and the highest point is at Kremenec: 1221 m. The lowest elevation is about 650 m. The annual precipitation is 850–1000 mm and the average annual temperature 5–6°C ¹ . Soils are fertil e ¹ .

A marked trail runs through the reserve and follows its northern and western boundaries. On the way to the reserve, one can see that the forests of the national park outside the reserve are still being logged. Camping is not allowed.

References:

1 Korpel’, Š. (1995): Die Urwälder der Westkarpaten. Gustav Fischer Verlag.

2 http://www.pralesy.sk/

Official site:

http://www.sopsr.sk/nppoloniny/en/nature.php

Video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzIQhHvYDko