Planted Forests

The university textbook “Forest and Plantation Establishment” is intended for fourth-year forestry students at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka. It is structured into two comprehensive parts: Forest Establishment and Plantation Establishment. The first part provides an overview of the historical development of afforestation worldwide and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, key concepts and classifications, as well as contemporary challenges, including climate change, invasive species, and land-use competition. It explores the functions and significance of newly established forests in productive, ecological, and social contexts. Detailed chapters cover species selection, site preparation, sowing and planting techniques, post-establishment practices, and specific approaches such as agroforestry, erosion-control afforestation, and urban forestry. The final chapters address the causes of plantation failures and the application of new technologies. The second part focuses on plantation forestry, starting with conceptual and historical foundations, classification, and species selection, with particular emphasis on the role of poplar clones and cultivars, alongside other species cultivated in plantations. It discusses site selection, soil preparation methods, techniques and timing of establishment, and subsequent management in long-, medium-, and short-rotation plantations. The concluding chapters present a range of tree species used in plantation forestry, highlighting their specific characteristics and potential. This textbook serves as a comprehensive resource offering students and future forestry professionals theoretical knowledge, practical guidelines, and a critical perspective on the role of forest and plantation establishment in modern forestry, aiming at sustainable management and improvement of forest ecosystems.