Assessing Site Disturbance Using Two Ground Survey Methods in a Mountain Forest

Nacrtak Assessment of disturbance can provide forest managers with information to make appropriate decisions on site rehabilitation and monitoring. This paper evaluates the accuracy of successive estimates of site disturbance using two ground survey methods. The results from the point transect and grid point transect and grid point intercept methods were compared with the results from an intensive 1x1 m grid survey over a 4 ha study area. The point transect method, using a transect spacing of 30 m, provided the most accurate and consistent estimate of disturbance in the study area. Following the harvest, approximately half of all treated area was disturbed to varying levels. Intact forest floor (undisturbed) and light slash were the dominant surface conditions, covering an average of 70% of harvested area. The results indicate that shallow disturbances (litter left in place or removed) were more frequent than deep disturbances (topsoil removed, subsoil exposed, or rut exposed).