. It has therefore become necessary
to survey forest regeneration, to ascertain whether deer pressure hampers silvicultural goals and also to investigate
which factors are most involved. A review of management plans over the last 30 years identified areas in which regeneration
is present, where transects were subsequently sampled. Inside every transect, all saplings (over 50 cm) were measured
for diameter and height and monitored for degree and type of damage (browsing, debarking, fraying). Using the CART statistical
method, the following key factors were singled out: species, proving that fir is the most frequently selected sapling;
silvicultural system, clarifying that the regeneration of uneven-aged stands is more subject to damage; aspect, locating
more damage in the southern and eastern areas, probably because they are more often frequented by deer. High densities
of deer endanger fir survival, reduce biodiversity, and affect forest economy, limiting silvicultural choices, so that culling ungulate
populations seems to be necessary.