Methods
Deer damage surveys were programmed in order to
concentrate them in areas where regeneration is expected
and only where it is required by silvicultural
practices. To identify a priori these areas, the field
phase was preceded by research in forest exploitation,
by means of management plan data covering the last
30 years. Screening followed various criteria, one for
even-aged and another for uneven-aged stands. For
even-aged compartments, 30% standing crop felling
during the considered timeframe was deemed to set the
sufficient and necessary conditions to trigger natural
regeneration. For uneven-aged compartments, fellings
of any entity were considered