Uneven-aged silviculture of Scots pine in Bohemia and Central Spain: comparison study of stand reaction to transition and long-term selection management

Abstract

The achievement of sustainable forest management requires the incorporation of ongoing environmental changes into long-term planning. Moreover, in time of climatic change and changing company demands, importance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is still increasing at the expense of other tree species due to its low ecological requirements. The aim of the study was to compare the structure and production of Scots pine stands managed under different silvicultural systems on four research plots, assess the structural and diversity indices, and analyse the increment structure using tree-ring dating in the Czech Republic and Spain. Area of study was Western Bohemian and Guadarrama Mountain range in Central Spain. The results indicate that stand volume on the investigated plots ranged from 231 to 441 m<sup>3</sup>∙ha<sup>–1</sup> with tree density 276–996 trees∙ha<sup>–1</sup>. Intensively managed (uneven-aged) permanent research plots showed increased growth on basal area. The difference was evident also for older trees. The transition to uneven-aged forest does not negatively influence stocking and wood production and provide higher benefits for diversity and structural complexity in comparison to regular stands.

Effect of game browsing on natural regeneration of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in the Krušné hory Mts. (Czech Republic and Germany)

“…This reduction in species diversity in turn brings about a change in the stability and vitality of the forest ecosystem. Heterogeneous ecosystems have higher productivity at a later stage of development compared to monocultures (Pretzsch et al 2010;Dănescu et al 2016;Zeller & Pretzsch 2019;Gallo et al 2020c). In addition, mixed and largely structured forests are more resilient to ongoing climate change that is manifested by higher mean annual temperatures, uneven precipitation distribution and more frequent climatic extremes (Pretzsch et al 2013;Seidl 2017;Ammer 2019;Vacek et al 2020b).…”

A major tool for afforestation of semi-arid and anthropogenic steppe areas in Turkey: Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe

“…As a matter of fact, P. nigra has already been suggested as an alternative species for unfavourable soil conditions particularly against the changing climate conditions in Central Europe (Thurm et al 2018). On this issue Gallo et al (2020b) recommended that the achievement of sustainable forest management requires the incorporation of ongoing environmental changes into long-term planning. Large-scale semi-arid afforestation can increase precipitation and carbon sequestration potential (Yosef et al 2018).…”

Potential of mixed Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L. forests in lowland areas of Central Bohemia

“…Also, the height and diameter structural differentiation was low, and the structural variability was also monotonous. Gallo et al (2020) attribute differences in the structure and diversity of pine stands in Spain and the Czech Republic to different forest management practices. On the other hand, Bílek et al (2016), comparing different pine stands in the Czech Republic and Poland, document relatively little difference in the structure of stands managed with close-to-nature principles and unmanaged stands.…”