In the research we compared the success of natural and artificial regeneration after 2008 windthrow on the slopes of Črnivec. The research area comprised of 20 plots on the northern side of Črnivec, where we performed measurements of planted seedlings and natural seedlings in 2012 and 2021. The emphasis was on the regeneration cover and height of planted and natural seedlings. We found that the height and cover of regeneration increased on both natural and artificially restored areas, with artificial regeneration having advantage over natural ones. Areas of artificial regeneration have gained more on indicators that indicate successful restoration, but also development on naturally restored plots was not unsatisfactory. In 9 years, the planted seedlings gained 763 cm in height, while the dominant individuals of natural regeneration gained 484 cm. The coverage of artificial regeneration increased by 91 percentage points between 2012 and 2021, and natural regeneration by 49 percentage points. Share of spruce, sycamore maple and beech increased in the mixture of artificially regenerated areas, while the pioneers declined. Meanwhile, on naturally regenerated plots, the share of pioneers increased, while share of spruce, beech, and fir declined. Both natural and artificial restoration have been successful, but help is needed in the restoration of some individual upper-slope parts of Črnivec, where regeneration is strongly limited by ground vegetation. In the future, there will be a need for specially trained teams of foresters who will be in charge of controlling and organizing forest restoration practice.
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