Introducing Intensively Managed Spruce Plantations in Swedish Forest Landscapes will Impair Biodiversity Decline

Abstract

Due to pressure to raise forest productivity in Sweden, there are proposals to apply more intensive forestry methods, but they could have potentially large effects on biodiversity. Here we report a compilation and evaluation of the extent and significance of such effects. We evaluated potential effects on biodiversity by introducing intensively fertilized Norway spruce plantations as a management option in Swedish forests with low conservation values on insects, vascular plants, lichens, bryophytes, and red-listed species. Due to a lack of specific studies addressing this question, we based the evaluation on a combination of available and appropriate empiric and anecdotic knowledge; literature data, and expert judgments largely available in species data bases. Our evaluations suggest that such forests will only harbor species that are common and widespread in conventionally managed stands and that species of conservation interest will be lacking, due to the low heterogeneity and light intensity of even-aged monocultures with dense canopies, short rotation times and low availability of coarse woody debris. Effects at the landscape scale are more difficult to evaluate, but will be dependent on the area utilized and the conservation value of sites used. We conclude that negative effects on biodiversity can be reduced if: (1) only land with the lowest conservational value is utilized; (2) plantations are OPEN ACCESSForests 2011, 2 611 spatially arranged to minimize fragmentation of the landscape; (3) the quality and quantity of key structural elements (e.g., coarse woody debris, old living trees and snags) are maintained at the landscape level; and (4) management intensity is relaxed on other land. For effective implementation of these measures, legislative frameworks and policy instruments need to be adjusted and new models for planning and monitoring need to be developed.

Contrasting long‐term effects of transient anthropogenic edges and forest fragment size on generalist and specialist deadwood‐dwelling fungi

“…This scenario represents an hypothetical situation where rotation times are significantly shortened, which is possible given current trends towards more intensive forestry and increased extraction of forest biomass in the future (Strengbom et al . ). The edge was simulated as a single continuous section of the stands' perimeter. Extreme: 100% of the surrounding forest is clear‐cut at t = 0.…”

Modelling of Climate Conditions in Forest Vegetation Zones as a Support Tool for Forest Management Strategy in European Beech Dominated Forests

“…The changes in climate conditions are expected to result in changes in the forest structure [2]. We know that the current form of forest management in Central Europe, with its preference for conifer monocultures, will not be sustainable in the future [3,4]. A substantial increase in air temperature, along with a simultaneous reduction in precipitation during the growing season in Central and Southern Europe, will increase the likelihood of long and intensive summer droughts, which may have severe effects on vegetation in natural and managed ecosystems [5].…”

Effects of repeated fertilization of young Norway spruce on foliar phenolics and arthropods: Implications for insectivorous birds’ food resources

“…Thus, the importance of careful spatial planning and inclusion of mitigation such as tree retention and set-aside areas when employing intensified fertilization regimes in managed forests becomes obvious (Strengbom et al, 2011). Nevertheless, our current knowledge-base may still be too limited to allow us to accurately predict the extent to what intensive forest fertilization schemes should be applied to optimally meet the society's goals of conservation, amount and timing of future timber supplies and carbon sequestration.…”

“…Therefore, the perspective of intensification of biomass production in high-latitude forests through supplementary nitrogenous fertilizer application becomes very attractive from an economical point of view. However, intensification of forestry may cause undesirable changes in forest ecosystems, including biodiversity loss (Hartmann et al, 2010;Strengbom et al, 2011).…”