The effects of forest structure on the risk of wind damage at a landscape level in a boreal forest ecosystem

Zeng, Hong; García-Gonzalo, Jordi; Peltola, Heli; Kellomäki, Seppo

doi:10.1051/forest/2009090

Cited by 41 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Valinger and Fridman (2011) also got similar results when they evaluated the risk for damage after the 2005 storm in Sweden, namely 46% of the spruce risk for pine and 2% for broad leafed. From the HWIND runs by Zeng et al (2010) it can be interpreted that the sensitivity of pine is 62% of that of spruce, but this number does not take into account that spruce often grow on soils that promote less stable trees. By analysing storm damage in a periphery district of the 1999 storm in south-western Germany, Kohnle and Gauckler (2003) found that the vulnerability for some hard-wood species was 6-20% of the value for spruce.…”

Section: Allometric-relationship Index For the Cohortsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing storm damage in a dynamic vegetation model for regional applications in Sweden

Lagergren

Jönsson

Blennow

et al. 2012

Ecological Modelling

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Wind is the dominant agent of damage in forests in Western Europe. Traditional winddamage models calculate a probability for damage or a critical wind speed at which damage occurs. However, in a dynamic vegetation model actual damage to stands and individual trees is needed to get a dynamical progression of the vegetation. We present a prototype for a new approach to modelling forest wind damage at the regional scale, which we incorporate within a dynamic vegetation model. The approach is based on knowledge from both empirical and mechanical models and calculates the damaged fraction of a cohort based on wind load and a sensitivity that depends on the current physical state and history of the cohort in relation to the ecosystem. The modelling concept has been developed, calibrated and evaluated for Swedish conditions but can be applicable to other similar areas with minor modification. Because of the stochastic nature of local wind load and the difficulty of describing the stand-level exposure, the ability to explain observed damage at stand level was low. Regional level variation in damage, which more depends on the wind load, was however explained reasonably well (R 2 = 0.43). We suggest that this is a useful concept for evaluating alternatives of forest management under different climate scenarios in the process of adaptation to future storm-damage risks. KeywordsDynamic vegetation model LPJ-GUESS; storm damage; windthrow; boreal forest; forestry

show abstract

Section: Allometric-relationship Index For the Cohortsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing storm damage in a dynamic vegetation model for regional applications in Sweden

Lagergren

Jönsson

Blennow

et al. 2012

Ecological Modelling

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Moreover, tree susceptibility to wind and snow damage depends on many physical and ecological factors including: (1) soil characteristics, slope and climate (Copeland et al 1996, Moore 2000, Quine 2000, Talkkari et al 2000, Cucchi & Bert 2003, Zeng et al 2010; (2) species composition, density, diameter distribution, and vertical structure (Valinger et al 1993, Quine 1995; and (3) the morphological and structural characteristics of individual plants (Coutts 1983, Petty & Swain 1985, Gardiner et al 1997, Mitchell 2000, Wilson & Oliver 2000, Nicoll et al 2006, Peltola 2006. The first factor is not influenced by management and cannot be controlled by foresters, the second factor can be controlled only in the long term, the third factor can be very useful in short-term management planning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This operation can cause an initial disruption in the crown coverage. Consequently, it is important to evaluate the vigor of the crown and the social status of each tree before proceeding with a silvicultural treatment similar to thinning from above.Moreover, tree susceptibility to wind and snow damage depends on many physical and ecological factors including: (1) soil characteristics, slope and climate (Copeland et al 1996, Moore 2000, Quine 2000, Talkkari et al 2000, Cucchi & Bert 2003, Zeng et al 2010; (2) species composition, density, diameter distribution, and vertical structure (Valinger et al 1993, Quine 1995; and (3) the morphological and structural characteristics of individual plants (Coutts 1983, Petty & Swain 1985, Gardiner et al 1997 Black pine has been used often in central and southern Italy to reforest mountainous areas depleted by the intensive use of natural resources. The main purpose of establishing pine forests in Italy was to protect the soil from excessive erosion, and also to facilitate the natural succession toward mixed forests with deciduous species.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating the mechanical stability of Pinus nigra Arn. using an alternative approach across several plantations in central Italy

Cantiani¹,

Chiavetta²

2015

iForest

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

© iForest -Biogeosciences and Forestry IntroductionIn Central Europe, the Balkans, and Mediterranean countries black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) is commonly planted for protection purposes (Bussotti 2002). In Italy, this practice was established at the national level in the 20 th century in accordance with a policy that was developed to protect the land from erosion (Piermattei et al. 2012).Black pine has been used often in central and southern Italy to reforest mountainous areas depleted by the intensive use of natural resources, especially during World War I and II. Toward the end of the 1970s, the mandatory requirement to reforest these areas using coniferous species was discontinued. In Italy, black pine occurs mostly in pure stands of even-aged forests (50 years old on average) and covers an area of 236 467 hectares (Gasparini & Tabacchi 2011).Black pine has been used widely acrossItaly because of its typical characteristics of a pioneer species: low mortality, rapid juvenile growth, low incidence of health issues, and the ability to improve both chemical and physical characteristics of the soil. Among the sub-species of Pinus nigra Arn., the European black pine (Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. nigra) was used more commonly on calcareous soils and Pinus nigra subsp. laricio Maire was preferred on sandstone soils. The main purpose of establishing pine forests in Italy was to protect the soil from erosion, and also to facilitate the natural succession toward mixed forests with a strong component of deciduous species (Cantiani et al. 2010). The commercial value of these pine forests was not a priority.The most common silvicultural treatments in Europe currently aim at maximizing the stability and facilitating the transition from pure stands to mixed stands with a stronger component of native tree species (Mosandl & Kessner 1999, Heitz & Hasenauer 2000, Kenk & Guehne 2001, Malcolm et al. 2001, Kint et al. 2006. Black pine was usually planted in pure stands at a density of 2500 trees per hectare with a rotation period of approximately 90 years depending on the site characteristics. During the rotation period multiple thinning usually should be applied to facilitate the transition toward a mixed forest. The average stand age of Italian pine forest is 50 years; consequently, there is still a need for additional research to understand the most effective treatments required to convert these pure pine forests.On privately owned forests (approximately 47% of the total), the most common treatment is a clear cut on small patches followed by artificial regeneration of native species (e.g., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Acer opalus Mill., Quercus cerris L., Fraxinus ornus L., etc.). On public land, larger areas are commonly harvested (e.g., strips, patches) in order to facilitate the natural regeneration of native species.Thinning is the most effective silvicultural treatment to enhance the ecological value of these stands. Pure pine stands reach canopy closure at an early age; therefore, it is important to conduct pre-commercial thinning ...

show abstract

“…Other potential legacies, such as old logging damages that could have enhanced the spread of decay fungi (Vasiliauskas, 2001) and monolayered structure that could be more vulnerable to wind disturbances (Zeng et al 2010), at the present have no evident consequences in the two studied plots. As a consequence we expect that these previously managed stands will reach more advanced stages of development far later than natural stands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Stand and coarse woody debris dynamics in subalpine Norway spruce forests withdrawn from regular management

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract• We studied structural characteristics, amount and quality of coarse woody debris (CWD), intensity of competition and mortality in two subalpine Norway spruce stands withdrawn from regular management. The stands, that we measured twice (in 1993 and 2005), have similar age and structure, but a different time has elapsed since the last silvicultural treatments (respectively 22 and about 55 y).• The main purposes were to analyze the current stage of development as compared to the old-growth one and to highlight the legacies of past management.• Although relatively old, the first plot (Valbona 1) was at the end of the pole stage. CWD was low in volume and was mainly of man-made origin (stumps). A recent thinning from below has reduced density-dependent competition and delayed the development of old-growth characteristics. The second plot (Valbona 2a) was at the beginning of the transition stage, with density-dependent and allogenic mortality both active at the same time. CWD volume was higher in plot Valbona 2a than in Valbona 1, but neither was comparable yet to the reference old-growth sites from Central Europe, both in quantity and in quality (e.g., decay rate continuity).• The effects of the past management were: (1) reducing the quality and quantity of the CWD, (2) alleviating competition, (3) increasing resistance to minor disturbances and, as a consequence, (4) delaying the development processes.• In mature or overmature subalpine Norway spruce stands withdrawn from regular management many decades are necessary to develop old-growth characteristics and a longer period of time is necessary to reach a true old-growth stage.

show abstract

The effects of forest structure on the risk of wind damage at a landscape level in a boreal forest ecosystem

Cited by 41 publications

References 24 publications

Implementing storm damage in a dynamic vegetation model for regional applications in Sweden

Implementing storm damage in a dynamic vegetation model for regional applications in Sweden

Estimating the mechanical stability of Pinus nigra Arn. using an alternative approach across several plantations in central Italy

Stand and coarse woody debris dynamics in subalpine Norway spruce forests withdrawn from regular management

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About