SUBALPINE WOODY VEGETATION IN THE EASTERN CARPATHIANS AFTER RELEASING FROM AGROPASTORAL PRESSURE

Climate and topography are significant drivers in the spatial distribution of the subalpine woody vegetation. We used a numerical model of tree crowns (CHM, Canopy Height Model) based on laser scanning (LiDAR) and the high-resolution numerical terrain model (DTM) to show the topography and climatic factors responsible for subalpine thicket distribution in the Eastern Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Bieszczady National Park). Anselin Local Moran's I statistic was used to find hot and cold spots of vegetation cover. The formation of fields with rock debris creates unique shelter for rowan, green alder, and willows. Among climate variables wind, snow cover, and insolation were of greatest importance. The file contain division of the research area into 20x20 m squares (data_rowan84.shp) and attributes data (data_rowan.xlsx) with the distribution of scrub vegetation and the values of the predictors in the squares (connecting field (FID_1).