STRUCTURE ET REGENERATION DU CHENE AFARES (Quercus afares, pomel) DANS LA FORET DE ZOUAGHA

Abstract

Establishing and interpreting diameter and height structures are crucial for forest management decisions. The aim of this study is to describe the diameter structure and spatial distribution of Quercus afares populations in the Zouagha forest (Mila). Understanding these parameters is an essential step towards sustainable management of these resources. The diameter at 1.30 m from the ground and the total height of individuals were measured in four plots (900 m²) of Quercus afares. The dendrometric parameters calculated varied from plot to plot. The highest basal area value was observed in the stands of plot 2 (36.13±1.65 m2 /ha), while the lowest values were found in plot 1. Average diameters hovered around 39.97 ± 22.33 cm for plot 2. The highest total tree heights were recorded in plot 4 (8.38 ± 2.87 m). Natural regeneration was low, at 70.64%. Analysis of diameter and height structures reveals a predominance of young, small-diameter trees with average heights. These results provide a valuable database, contributing to the improvement and sustainable management of Quercus afares in the Zouagha forest