Evaluation of post-fire silvicultural treatments applied in red pine and black pine stands in the Koycegiz region of Mugla

The study area was selected from red pine and black pine stands damaged by the 2021 forest fires that occurred within the boundaries of the Köyceğiz Forest Management Directorate, the Köyceğiz Forest Management Directorate, the Beyobası Forest Management Directorate, and the Akköprü Management Directorate, all affiliated with the Muğla Regional Directorate of Forestry. This study evaluated the post-fire silvicultural treatments implemented in red pine and black pine stands in the Köyceğiz region that had experienced fires. For this purpose, a total of 35 sections were designated as sample plots in three separate sub-districts, and seedling counts were conducted in these areas. A general assessment of the silvicultural treatments implemented in the areas following the fire was made. At the end of the study, the average seedling success in 2024 was found to be higher in all sub-districts than in 2022. As a result of the variance analysis performed on sapling success among the chiefdoms, it was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (P>0.01). When the Duncan Test results for sapling success were evaluated, the highest sapling success was 52.44% in the Köyceğiz Chiefdom, and the lowest was 46.54%. Although there was no significant difference according to the Duncan test results, the average for the Köyceğiz Forest Management Chiefdom was higher. Regarding sapling success by tree species among the chiefdoms, the average sapling success was found to be higher for Turkish Red Pine than for Turkish Black Pine in all chiefdoms. In conclusion, by determining the sapling success status in areas where regeneration was carried out after forest fires, the extent to which the work was carried out in accordance with the principle of continuity, the reasons for failure and the determination of the resulting silvicultural requirements contributed to the etermination of the resulting sapling success.