Protecting old-growth forests in Europe - a review of scientific evidence to inform policy implementation

O’Brien, Lyla; Schuck, Andreas; Fraccaroli, Cecilia; Pötzelsberger, Elisabeth; Winkel, Georg; Lindner, Marcus

doi:10.36333/rs1

Cited by 21 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 156 publications

(278 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Entrambe le strategie EU 2030 per biodiversità e foreste prevedono infatti un aumento delle aree protette (che dovrebbero arrivare al 30% del territorio nel 2030) ed un aumento delle aree di "rigorosa protezione" all'interno delle aree protette (un terzo delle aree protette entro il 2030). Tra le aree meritevoli di "rigorosa protezione" entrambe le strategie individuano come prioritarie le "foreste vetuste" (Sabatini et al 2018, O'Brien et al 2021. Queste foreste, accanto al ruolo di conservazione della biodiversità, dovrebbero anche svolgere il ruolo di modello per migliorare l'integrazione tra i servizi ecosistemici ed in particolare tra la conservazione della biodiversità e la produzione.…”

Section: Foreste E Biodiversitàunclassified

A new paradigm for sustainable forest management: closeR to nature forest management

Motta¹,

Larsen²

2022

Forest@

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A new paradigm for sustainable forest management: closeR to nature forest managementCloser-to-Nature Forest Management is a new concept proposed both in the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and in the EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030. Closerto-Nature Forest Management aims to improve the conservation values and climate resilience of multifunctional, managed forests in Europe. We present the concept based on a set of seven guiding principles and discuss main problems and opportunities of its application at continental scale and in Italy.

show abstract

Section: Foreste E Biodiversitàunclassified

A new paradigm for sustainable forest management: closeR to nature forest management

Motta¹,

Larsen²

2022

Forest@

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…To sustain the spatial continuity of habitats for a diverse range of species, the composition of TreMs in secondary or managed forests should reflect that of natural ones (Vandekerkhove et al, 2013; O’Brien et al, 2021). For example, secondary cavity-nesting birds need a continuum of specific cavity types: some owl species require cavities with a large entrance, small birds need smaller entry holes (Newton, 1994; van der Hoek et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of Tree-related Microhabitats in a primeval mountain forest: from natural patterns to landscape planning and forest management recommendations

Przepióra,

Lewandowski,

Ciach

2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tree-related Microhabitats (TreMs) are essential for sustaining forest biodiversity. Although TreMs represent ephemeral resources that are spread across the landscape, their spatial distribution within temperate forests remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study on 90 sample plots (0.05 ha each) located in a primeval mountain European beech Fagus sylvatica-dominated forest (Bieszczady Mountains, Carpathians). We explored the TreM profile with its link to habitat characteristics and described the spatial distribution of TreM indices. We identified 61 TreM types, with a mean richness of 19.7 +-4.9 SD TreM types per plot, a mean density of 740.7 +-292.5 SD TreM-bearing trees ha-1 and a mean TreM diversity of 1.2 +-0.1 SD. The diameter and living status of trees (living vs dead standing tree) were correlated with TreM richness on an individual tree. The stand structure, i.e. density and/or basal area of living and/or dead standing trees, and topographic conditions, i.e. slope exposure, were correlated with the TreM richness, density and diversity recorded on a study plot. We found no relationship between TreM richness, density and diversity and the presence of canopy gaps, which indicates that the influence of small-scale disturbances on the TreM profile is limited. However, our analysis revealed a clustered spatial pattern of TreM indices, with TreM-rich habitat patches (hot-spots) covering ~20% of the forest. A moderate TreM richness, density and diversity dominated ~60% of the forest, while TreM-poor habitat patches (cold-spots) covered ~20%. Based on our findings, we advise the transfer of knowledge on the spatial distribution of TreMs from primeval to managed forests and advocate the '2:6:2' triad rule: to allocate 20% of forests as strictly protected areas, to dedicate 60% to low-intensity forest management with the retention of large living trees and all dead standing trees, and to use the remaining 20% for intensive timber production. To ensure the continuance of the majority of TreM types, ≥ 55 living trees ha-1 > 60 cm in diameter should be retained. Such an approach will maintain a rich and diverse TreM assemblage across a broad spatial scale, which in turn will support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration in secondary or managed forests.

show abstract

“…Old-growth forests play an invaluable role in biodiversity conservation and the provision of other ecosystem services (O'Brien et al 2021). A core aim of the EU's biodiversity strategy for 2030 is to increase the proportion of protected and strictly protected areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of stem rot on wood basic density, carbon, and nitrogen content of living deciduous trees in hemiboreal forests

Liepiņš,

Jaunslaviete,

Liepiņš

et al. 2023

Silva Fenn

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While numerous studies have focused on analyzing various aspects of the carbon (C) budget in forests, there appears to be a lack of comprehensive assessments specifically addressing the impact of stem rot on the C budget of broadleaf tree species, especially in old-growth forests where stem rot is prevalent. One of the main challenges in accurately quantifying C losses caused by stem rot is the lack of precise data on the basic density and C content of decayed wood, which are crucial for converting decayed wood volume into biomass and C stocks. Using linear mixed-effects models, we examine the variability of wood basic density, C content, and nitrogen (N) content. Discolored and decomposed wood was collected from the stems of 136 living deciduous trees common in hemiboreal forests in Latvia. Our research indicates a noticeable reduction in the wood basic density, coupled with an increase in the N content within the stem wood throughout the decomposition process in birch (Betula spp.), European aspen (Populus tremula L.), grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench), and common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.). While aspen wood showed a decreasing trend in C content as decay progressed, a pairwise comparison test revealed no significant differences in C content between discolored and decomposed wood for the studied species, unlike the findings for basic density and N content. This study emphasizes the need to account for stem rot in old-growth forest carbon budgets, especially in broadleaf species, and calls for more research on stem rot-induced carbon losses.

show abstract

Protecting old-growth forests in Europe - a review of scientific evidence to inform policy implementation

Cited by 21 publications

References 156 publications

A new paradigm for sustainable forest management: closeR to nature forest management

A new paradigm for sustainable forest management: closeR to nature forest management

Spatial distribution of Tree-related Microhabitats in a primeval mountain forest: from natural patterns to landscape planning and forest management recommendations

Effect of stem rot on wood basic density, carbon, and nitrogen content of living deciduous trees in hemiboreal forests

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About