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Forests of the national park |
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AUTHOR: Prof. dr. sc. Branimir Prpic The forests of the Plitvice Lakes National Park are one of the condions of present status and of survival of lake water and belonging streams ecosystem. Favourable geological conditions which are effecting the Park area, do depend on balanced forestry ecosystems, composed exclusively from grown up, well composed forestry components of natural system.
 There is no soil erosion in the Park area, and that could be provided only by forest itself. Forest creates much more soil than insignificant amounts of soil taken away by superficial rainflow are. Tree crowns of the Plitvice forests are covering forest soil well. That soil is in fact soft, spongy creation which purifies the water by filtering it, makes it drinkable, keeps it and slowly lets it off in springs, streams and the lakes. Water which goes from forest into the lake, certainly keeps its cleanliness, transparency and is suitable for development of travertine forming plants.
Geological base of the Park is mostly made of limestone of Mesozoic era with layers of dolomite, but of dolomite itself as well. The most represented ground is brown soil on the limestone and dolomite (kalkokambisol) and its depth depends on the karst phenomena.
The most represented tree species in the Park forest is beech tree (Fagus sylvatica) which is covering about 73% of forestry area. Beech tree has a great ecological value. In major parts of these forests, beech tree is reaching its ecological top creating secure and firm forestry cover, thus making ecological base of its area safe.
The second largest represented tree species in the Park is fir tree (Abies alba). This coniferous species appears in a higher area above plain beech forest. In its living area, fir tree grows up together with beech tree, thus creating one of the most beautiful and ecologically most efficient forests of the area. The share of all fir trees in the National Park forests is about 22%.
 Among the other tree species, we can find in the Park deciduous trees as follows: mountain maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), maple mlijec (Acer platanoides), maple gluhac (Acer obtusatum), oak of kitnjak species (Quercue petraea), mountain elm tree (Ulmus montana). Coniferous trees that can be seen are: spruce (Picea abies), a pine (Pinus nigra), common pine (Pinus sylvestris). Out of "Pioneer" tree species which are occupying open areas, we could mention juniper tree, pine, birch tree and trepetljika (Betula pendula and Populus tremula). All the mentioned tree species cover about 5% out of the total forestry area.
The characteristics of the Park forests is a variety of plant and animal species. Plant species are layer of trees, bushes, low vegetation and layers of mosses. There is very intensive life in the ground where we can find roots of high plant species, mushrooms and bacteria as well as part of animal world which decom poses dead plant and animal stuff. Very important are dead standing trees which represent a home for numerous birds, insects, rodents and other animal species. The areas separating forests from meadows, and forests from lakes, are considered to be rich of bird species and insects.
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