The Vršič road is threatened by snow avalanches, and the forests above it are performing a protective function against them. We analysed potential hazard tothe road and forests above it from snow avalanches, and evaluated the protective function of the forest. We defined guidelines and measures for further development of the forests to enhance its protective effect, and evaluated the actual spatial distribution of formalized protective function area of the forest within management plans. We set a network of 21 sample plots on the research area and measured all living trees with DBH ? 10 cm. Using the modified method NaiS (Frehner et al., 2005) we defined the stand boundaries, analysed them and compared the actual state of the stands to the target state. With regard to the slope and forest cover we made a map of the areas that are most prone to formation of snow avalanches. The share of beech in growing stock was 55 %, the share of spruce 32 % and the share of larch 11 %. We concluded that none of the stands provided complete and permanent protective function against snow avalanches. The largest problems are poor regeneration and ensuring uneven-aged stand structure. Technical measures are needed in two stands. The most important guidelines for the future developmentof the forest are: favouring heterogeneous stand structure and regeneration, safeguarding good stability and vitality of the trees, ensuring sufficient density of the trees, the share of the spruce in growing stock should not exceed 30 %, while the share of the beech should not be less than 60 %.
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