Natural Regeneration of Beech Forests (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in Shida Kartli According to Forest Types and Ecotopes

The presented work discusses the features of natural regeneration of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forests distributed in the Shida Kartli region in different forest types and ecotopes. The study was carried out in four forest districts of the Shida Kartli State Forest Fund – Khashuri, Kareli, Gori and Kaspi forest districts. Classical field research methods were used: sampling of sample areas and census plots, determination of stand characteristics and quantitative assessment of the seedling-growth ratio. The results of the study showed that the intensity of natural regeneration of beech forests varies significantly depending on the ecotopes and significantly depends on the density of the grove, the species composition of the understory and soil moisture conditions. The data obtained are important for planning sustainable management and restoration measures for beech forests.