Faállományok

Faállományok (Hungarian for forest stands) are defined areas within a forest where the trees share similar attributes, such as species composition, age class, density, and growing conditions. The concept is central to forest management in Hungary and many other countries, providing a basis for planning, inventory, and silvicultural treatment. A stand may be dominated by a single species or be mixed, and it is typically delineated at a scale suitable for management decisions, often reflecting boundaries used in forest management plans.

Key characteristics of faállományok include species composition, age structure, diameter distribution, height, basal area, volume, stocking, site quality, site index, and health status. These attributes are used to describe the stand's productivity and structure, and they form the basis for volume and growth estimates, yield tables, and decision-making.

Inventory and data collection involve field surveys with measurements of DBH, height, age, and health, usually conducted in sample plots. Results are used to estimate standing timber volume, density, and growth with allometric equations, and are integrated into GIS-based maps or forest management databases. Remote sensing and aerial surveys increasingly support large-scale stand delineation and monitoring.

Applications of faállományok include harvest scheduling, thinning and rotation planning, habitat management, biodiversity and carbon accounting, and assessment of ecological health. Classifications often distinguish monospecific versus mixed stands, and young, middle-aged, or mature stands, guiding silvicultural interventions and regeneration planning.