The activity will be implemented during the appropriate season of the year, i.e. September-October 2015 and June-October 2016. The first field trip at the beginning of the project, i.e. in mid-September 2015, will be focused on a detailed selection of the pilot site with the aim to find an at least partially managed area on which the project activities will take place. The expected size of the study area should be from 500 to 1000 ha (will be modified based on the first reconnaissance) with respect to available staff, character of field works and cooperation with Georgian experts.
For the project to be introduced, it is necessary to ensure access to the site (detailed mensurational measurements, area diversity, access, issue of forest protection, compact), which should represent the diversity of the forest functions (both natural conditions and management). Within the activity, main forest types will be characterized with respect to the existing system used to characterize natural conditions (forest typology used in Georgia – if available). On the pilot site, according to natural conditions and current state of forests (stand types), the most optimal structure of the units of spatial forest division (USFD) will be proposed. In the chosen USFD, basic mensurational data will be determined (mean stand height, mean stand diameter, basal area, etc.). For this purpose, basic mensurational instruments will be used procured within the project.
The activity will be focused also on access to forest stands via the road network with regard to availability and potential use. This activity will put emphasis on the participation of the target group in field surveys so that its members can properly learn data collection in the field and application of selected methods.
