500 years of coppice-with-standards management in Meerdaal Forest (Central Belgium)

Abstract

(3)For centuries, coppice and coppice-with-standards were the main forest management systems in the northern and central parts of present Belgium. A high population density and a low forest cover in the whole region resulted in a high demand for wood, therefore strict regulations and management regimes were necessary to prevent overexploitation. We illustrate this with a well-documented case, that of Meerdaal Forest in Central Belgium, with reference to other sites in the region. Meerdaal Forest is a woodland 30 km east of Brussels. For centuries its high quality timber stands, especially oak, were managed as coppice-with-standards, with a gradually increasing share of standard trees. Using archive documents and ancient maps, we have reconstructed how this coppice-with-standard management has been developed and optimized over a period of about 500 years. Changes in cutting cycles and configurations were discerned, with a gradual increase of the importance of the standard layer over time. The analysis also showed how wood production could be successfully combined with other sources of income like grazing and pannage. We conclude that former managers of Meerdaal Forest, notwithstanding their lack of scholarship and reference works, developed a state-of-the-art sustainable and flexible management regime that allowed to provide high revenues during many centuries.

Predicted occurrence of ancient coppice woodlands in the Czech Republic

“…In most Central and North-Western European countries (where coppice woodlands were dramatically transformed into high forests), coppice woodlands and especially stored coppices and coppices with standards are now considered from a biodiversity conservation perspective as valuable forest habitat, providing important conditions for saproxylic species and a unique herbaceous layer (Mölder 2016). However, scientifically-trained foresters in the 19 th and 20 th century apparently associated traditional management forms (including coppicing) with degradation and depletion, and also with poor timber quality (Vandekerkhove et al 2016).…”

Saproxylic beetles in non-intervention and coppice-with-standards restoration management in Meerdaal forest (Belgium): an exploratory analysis

“…It also has had a long history of very intensive management, with little or no deadwood remaining at the site (Vandekerkhove et al 2016), and very few veteran trees. In 1913, barely 15 trees over 250 cm in girth occurred in the whole forest complex (Vandekerkhove et al 2009b).…”

“…The beech stands were mostly planted in the period 1850-1900, and are managed as high forest with regular thinning. For centuries, the oak stands were managed as coppice-with-standards but were gradually converted to high forest over the last 100 years (Vandekerkhove et al 2016).…”

Biologische Waarderingskaart Uitgave 2018

“…Dit is een nieuwe karteringseenheid voor jonge, recente loofhoutaanplanten. Deze ressorteerde vroeger onder n (dikwijls met vermelding van 'jonge aanplant' in het infoveld van de BWKdatabank) (Vandekerkhove et al 2016). na…”

“…Dit is een nieuwe karteringseenheid voor oude loofbossen met dikke bomen die nog onvoldoende ontwikkeld of te sterk verstoord zijn om tot een bostype en/of habitattype te rekenen (Vandekerkhove et al 2016). Vroeger ressorteerden deze bossen grotendeels onder de karteringseenheid n, maar deels ook onder qb (°) (in de Kempen) en onder qs (°) (buiten de Kempen).…”