Lessons from natural forests as keys for sustainable management and improvement of naturalness in managed broadleaved forests

Schnitzler, Annik; Borlea, F.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1127(98)00263-1

Cited by 34 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The regular, even-aged structure as observed in present-day managed stands is not natural for this ecosystem and is responsible for a loss of biodiversity (Schnitzler, Borlea 1998). One approach to increase the habitat diversity in the interventional part of the reserve could be to develop management systems that mimic the natural patterns and processes related to the mosaic cycle.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural regeneration of senescent even-aged beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands under the conditions of Central Bohemia

Bílek¹,

Remeš²,

Zahradník³

2009

J. For. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:The natural regeneration of beech (Fagus sylvatica l.) was studied under various shelterwood densities and silvicultural treatments in senescent beech stands in central Bohemia. four permanent research plots differed in shelterwood density, crown cover and average relative light intensities. Between 2003 and 2007, seed production, seedling emergence and survival were followed. The mean density of beech seeds (full and empty) per 1 m 2 was estimated in another forest stand. in the autumn of 2003 the values were distinctly higher than those indicated for full mast years of beech. Despite high losses during the wintering of seeds, relatively low germination and high first-season mortality, the high density of 1-year-old beech seedlings indicates that these elements are not the factors which hinder natural regeneration. The thickness of the humus horizons influenced the density of young beech seedlings during all the three years. Ground vegetation was more frequent outside the crown projections of parent trees and increased with distance from the nearest tree. A reduction of crown cover to the level of 80% was an appropriate measure that assured the high survival of beech regeneration during the observed four-year period. Border cutting with the outer face oriented towards the east has to be considered as less suitable for beech regeneration than shelterwood systems and group selection harvesting.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural regeneration of senescent even-aged beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands under the conditions of Central Bohemia

Bílek¹,

Remeš²,

Zahradník³

2009

J. For. Sci.

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“…Management status and developmental phases are two main factors that influence SDTs dynamics [20,21,28,40]. Samples were taken exclusively in the neutrophilous silver fir-beech forest as site conditions also seemed to have an effect on SDTs [22,44].…”

Section: Sampling Methods and Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, maintenance of snags has become an integrated part of forest management in France [15]. There is limited information currently available concerning the amount and distribution of SDT in managed and unmanaged forests in France [13,25,40]. We assessed existing levels of snags in unmanaged ancient forests to provide a basis for what might be considered as high amounts of snags under present conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The management of snags: A comparison in managed and unmanaged ancient forests of the Southern French Alps

Marage

Lempérière

2005

Ann. For. Sci.

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-Dead wood is an important structure for conservation purposes and for maintaining biodiversity. In this context, snags were studied under different conditions in silver fir ancient forests of the southern French Alps. The impact of management status and developmental phases were estimated on both quantity and quality of this material. SDT volume averaged 64.6 ± 19.8 m 3 ·ha -1 and 15.8 ± 6.0 m 3 ·ha -1 in unmanaged and managed ancient forests, respectively. SDT volume varied according to the point in the silvicultural cycle and silvigenesis cycle ranging from 4.3 ± 3.4 m 3 ·ha -1 in early aggradation phase of managed forests to 202.3 ± 48.6 m 3 ·ha -1 in degradation phase of unmanaged forest. Large SDT significantly belonged to the degradation phase of unmanaged forests. Our research showed that SDT density in this ancient forests was mainly governed by natural processes. An average of 9 large SDT per ha has been proposed to preserve the ecological processes.Alps / ancient forest / dead wood / ecological persistence / silver fir Résumé -Gestion du bois mort sur pied : comparaison entre forêts anciennes gérées et subnaturelles des Alpes du Sud françaises. La quantité de bois mort est un enjeu important dans la conservation et le maintien de la biodiversité forestière. Dans ce contexte, les bois morts sur pied ont été étudiés dans des hêtraies-sapinières anciennes des Alpes du Sud françaises. L'impact du mode de gestion et des différentes phases du cycle sylvicultural et de la mosaïque sylvatique a été estimé. Le volume moyen de bois mort sur pied atteint 64,6 ± 19,8 m 3 ·ha -1 dans les forêts anciennes inexploitées, alors qu'il n'est que de 15,8 ± 6,0 m 3 ·ha -1 dans les forêts exploitées. Ce volume moyen varie selon la mosaïque sylvatique, passant de 4,3 ± 3,4 m 3 ·ha -1 dans la jeune phase d'aggradation des forêts anciennes exploitées à 202,3 ± 48,6 m 3 ·ha -1 dans la phase de sénescence des forêts anciennes inexploitées. Cette dernière contient significativement les gros bois sec sur pied (DBH > 43 cm). Nos résultats montrent que dans ces écosystèmes montagnards, la disponibilité en bois mort sur pied, est due essentiellement aux fortes contraintes environnementales en présence.Alpes / bois mort / forêt ancienne / persistance écologique / sapin pectiné

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“…These two plots have also a low degree of CC, 20 % in SA-4 and 10 % in SB-4, which corresponds to the minimum threshold in discriminating a forest according to FAO (2001). The amount of CWD is equal to 0.9 m 3 ha -1 in SA-4 (Table 2), below the threshold of 134 m 3 ha -1 found in sessile oak woodlands (Petritan et al, 2012), 91.4 and 214.2 m 3 ha -1 (Schnitzler & Borlea, 1998;Wijdeven, 2004) in mixed woods with beech; in SB-4 is equal to 1 m 3 ha -1 (Table 2), even this less than 65.4 m 3 ha -1 (Carvalho, 2011) and 83 m 3 ha -1 reported by Manning et al (2013). Both plots do not exceed the minimum threshold of 10 m 3 ha -1 , indicated by Vallauri (2005) for the forests of the Central-Southern Italy.…”

Section: Plotmentioning

confidence: 72%

An index for the assessment of degraded Mediterranean forest ecosystems

2015

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Aim of study: Diagnosing the degradation degree of forest ecosystems is the basis for restoration strategies. However, there is no literature documenting how to quantify the forest degradation degree by using synthetic indicators, also because there is not a widely accepted definition for "forest degradation" and "degraded forest". Although there are many definitions of forest degradation that converge on the loss of ecosystem services, still today there are no largely accepted methods that give operational guidance to help in defining it. In the present research, with the aim to assess the degree of forest degradation, an integrated index -FDI, Forest Degradation Index -was developed.Area of study: In this first application, the FDI was applied and validated at stand level in two different Mediterranean forest types in two different case studies: Madonie and Nedrodi regional Parks (Sicily, Italy). The first dominated by sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. subsp. austrotyrrhenica Brullo, Guarino & Siracusa], the second dominated by cork oak (Quercus suber L.).Material and methods: FDI is a synthetic index structured starting from representative and relatively easily detectable parameters. Here, we propose a set of six indicators that should be assessed to determine the forest degradation: Structural Index (SI), Canopy Cover (CC), Natural Regeneration Density (NRD), Focal Species of Degradation (FSD), Coarse Woody Debris (CWD), and Soil Depth (SD). FDI, here proposed and discussed, has been based on a MCDA (Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis) approach using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, and implemented in order to contribute in finding simple indicators useful for forest restoration purposes that have an eco-functional basis.Main results: An integrated index of forest degradation has been defined. FDI values are comprised in the closed interval [0, 10], ranging from class I (Higher ecological functionality) to class IV (Lower ecological functionality). A forest fallen in the FDI-IV class can be defined degraded. In this first application, degradation occurs in SA-4 and in SB-4 where the lowest values (qualitative and quantitative) of the indicators were recorded and the FDI reach the minimum value.Research highlights: FDI has proved to be a useful tool at stand level in identifying a threshold value below which a forest can be termed as 'degraded'. In turn, FDI assumes the meaning of descriptor of the ecological functionality. Future development of the FDI will provide an extension of the application at landscape scale exploiting the potential advantages in coupling MCDA and GIS (Geographical Information Systems) techniques.

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Lessons from natural forests as keys for sustainable management and improvement of naturalness in managed broadleaved forests

Cited by 34 publications

References 10 publications

Natural regeneration of senescent even-aged beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands under the conditions of Central Bohemia

Natural regeneration of senescent even-aged beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands under the conditions of Central Bohemia

The management of snags: A comparison in managed and unmanaged ancient forests of the Southern French Alps

An index for the assessment of degraded Mediterranean forest ecosystems

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