Wind and snow damage in the Pyrenees pine forests: effect of stand attributes and location

Abstract

Wind and snow-induced damage have been analyzed at stand level for three pine forests in the Central-Eastern Pyrenees (Pinus nigra Arn. salzmanii, Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus uncinata Ram.). Stand-level models have been then developed for the most affected two species, Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus uncinata Ram., to describe damage severity. The models were based on data from national forest inventory plots. They included variables related to the spatial location and structure of the stands, being validated using a sub-set of the database (25% of the plots randomly selected). Mountain pine forests (Pinus uncinata Ram.) were the most heavily affected by wind and snow disturbances. For both mountain and Scots pine species, topographic exposure and the severity of the local storm regime had an important effect on the degree of damage. Stand's resistance to wind and snow was found to be dependent on the combined effect of basal area and mean slenderness of the dominant trees. For a given slenderness ratio, damage increased strongly in lower-density stands, particularly in stands with basal areas below 15 m 2 /ha. Stand structure was particularly important to define the resistance of Scots pine stands, which presented a higher vulnerability to wind and snow under higher degree of even-agedness. The models presented in this study provide empirically-based information that can be used to implement silvicultural practices to minimize the risk of those forests to suffer wind and snow-related damages.

Pruning effect in Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla clone growth

“…Once thinning takes place in the stands, the risk of wind damage is expected to reduce gradually as the remaining trees increase the strength and size of their stem and root system (STOKES, 2006). However, during the immediate period after thinning, and for some time, the lack of contact between canopies will translate on higher risk of wind damage (MILNE, 1991;MARTÍN-ALCÓN et al, 2010). Low slenderness values (lower than 1) are associated with wind tolerant trees growing under low growth strains (BIECHELE et al, 2009;WOOD et al, 2008).…”

Impactos, vulnerabilidad y adaptación al Cambio Climático en los bosques ibéricos

“…Martín-Alcón et al, 2010). También es posible que se puedan considerar casos de no intervención dependiendo de los medios disponibles, los cuáles pueden permitir observar la dinámica interna o "natural" de los bosques en condiciones de ausencia de manejo.…”

Modelling height to diameter ratio – an opportunity to increase Norway spruce stand stability in the Western Carpathians

“…It should be noted that stand density decreased dramatically with stand stage (age), especially in the youngest growth stages due to the high mortality rate. Often, the resistance of forests to wind and snow damage is related to the combined effect of basal area and HD ratio of the dominant trees (Martín-Alcón et al 2010). At tree level, tree height and stand density often play an important role for prediction of snow damage risk (Valinger et al 1993).…”