Response of birch and light-coniferous trees ...

In Mongolia, white birch (Betula platyphylla Sukaczev) increasingly plays a role on succession sites and as a pioneer at the forest-steppe border. However, light-coniferous trees dominate most forest stands of this transition zone. Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) is the most common and important tree species in economic terms. Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominates on a regional scale, especially in northeastern Selenge aimag. We established esearch plots and thinning trials during the UNFAO project (GCP/MON/002/NET) in the research area Altansumber (birch and larch), which is a prime example of the Mongolian mountain forest steppe zone. Additional research plots were stablished in the research area Bugant (birch and pine), which is situated east of Darkhan in the Khentii Mountains and a part of the densely forested taiga zone.