Silvicultural models to maintain and restore natural stand structures in Swedish boreal forests

doi:10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00003-0

Forest Ecology and Management

Volume 94, Issues 1–3, 30 June 1997, Pages 89-103

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127(97)00003-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

Almost all productive Swedish forests have been managed for timber production for a long period of time. More sensitive so-called red-listed species are today restricted to small remnant habitats in a managed landscape matrix. It has been hypothesized that natural biodiversity can be maintained if forest management mimics natural processes, blends natural structures and includes natural composition into the production forest. The most important restoration measures in Swedish boreal forests for promoting biodiversity are to increase the number and quality of undisturbed forests, the amounts of coarse woody debris, the number of deciduous trees, and to introduce fire as an ecological process.

On the basis of current knowledge of natural forest dynamics, we here present management options for three major site types in boreal Sweden which mimic natural dynamics better than traditional forestry. In the natural stages, the sites carried (1) Scots pine forest, (2) deciduous or Norway spruce dominated forest, and (3) Norway spruce forest regenerated by so-called gap dynamics, respectively.

The flora and fauna that characterize the first two, fire-influenced sites are considered relatively well-adapted to the kind of large-scale disturbances characterizing forestry. On these sites, therefore, the modifications proposed are within today's approach to applying the clear felling system. Sites that seldom experience fire may host species extremely sensitive to large-scale disturbances. If such sites are to be used for timber production, modified forestry practices using selection or shelterwood systems with relatively dense shelterwoods are suggested.

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Silvicultural models to maintain and restore natural stand structures in Swedish boreal forests

Abstract

Biol. Conserv.

For. Ecol. Manage.

Biol. Conserv.

Natural regeneration on planted clear-cuts in boreal Sweden

Scand. J. For. Res.

Winter habitats of moose and deer in relation to land use in Scandinavia

Viltrevy

Rödlistade ryggradsdjur i Sverige, Artfakta

Endangered wood-living insects in coniferous forests—some thoughts from studies of forest-fire sites, outcrop and clearcuttings in the province of Sörmland, Sweden. Entomol

Tidskr.

Vegetation zones and their sections in northwestern Europe

Ann. Bot. Fenn.

Threatened forest plant, animal and fungus species in Sweden—distribution and habitat preferences

Conserv. Biol.

A two thousand year history of a northern Swedish boreal forest stand

J. Veg. Sci.

Särnaprojektet. Inventeringsrap-port från en landskapsekologisk planering

Norrländska skogsvårdsfrågor

Forest fires in the Muddus national park (northern Sweden) during the past 600 years

Can. J. Bot.

Boreal forests—the focal habitats of Sweden

Scientific basis for new perspectives in forests and streams

Human transformation of the Swedish boreal forest

Different management regimes in a Swedish boreal forest landscape: Economic and ecological effects. In: Forest management planning for biodiversity and fimber production

Diversity in systems of forest management—a southern Swedish perspective

Elden och dess följeväxter i södra Sverige

Heat effects on seeds and rhizomes of a selection of boreal forest plants and potential reaction to fire

Oecologia

Site index estimation by means of site propeties. Scots pine and Norway spruce in Sweden

Stud. For. Suec.

Yield of seed, choice of seed trees, and seedling establishment in experiments with natural regeneration

Stud. For. Suec.

Preserving ecological diversity in boreal forests: ecological background, research, and management

Ann. Zool. Fenn.

Regeneration of Picea abies forests on highly productive peatlands—clearcutting or selective felling?

Scand. J. For. Res.

Windthrow after shelterwood cutting in Picea ables peatland forests

Scand. J. For. Res.