The tree species matters: Biodiversity and ecosystem service implications of replacing Scots pine production stands with Norway spruce

Abstract

The choice of tree species used in production forests matters for biodiversity and ecosystem services. In Sweden, damage to young production forests by large browsing herbivores is helping to drive a development where sites traditionally regenerated with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) are instead being regenerated with Norway spruce (Picea abies). We provide a condensed synthesis of the available evidence regarding the likely resultant implications for forest biodiversity and ecosystem services from this change in tree species. Apart from some benefits (e.g. reduced stand-level browsing damage), we identified a range of negative outcomes for biodiversity, production, esthetic and recreational values, as well as increased stand vulnerability to storm, frost, and drought damage, and potentially higher risks of pest and pathogen outbreak. Our results are directly relevant to forest owners and policy-makers seeking information regarding the uncertainties, risks, and trade-offs likely to result from changing the tree species in production forests.

Forest multifunctionality is not resilient to intensive forestry

“…For example, as encouraged by Finnish recommendations and as implemented in our study, rotation forestry favors the development of coniferous monocultures, but research suggests that mixed-species stands may be better at providing multiple ecosystem services (Huuskonen et al 2021). Tree species choice may also be guided by specific management goals such as resistance to herbivory instead of site type, with consequences on ecosystem services and biodiversity (Felton et al 2020).…”

Root Biomass Distribution of Populus sibirica and Ulmus pumila Afforestation Stands Is Affected by Watering Regimes and Fertilization in the Mongolian Semi-arid Steppe

“…Indeed, forests provide a range of functions that are fundamental to sustaining terrestrial systems through the regeneration of soil and biodiversity, water conservation, groundwater recharge, dust and flood prevention (MEA., 2005;Chazdon et al, 2009;Abson et al, 2014). Also, forests directly provide vital provisioning services such as biomass for materials and energy (Vitousek et al, 1986;Rojstaczer et al, 2001;Felton et al, 2020), food, recreation, and sheltering areas (Mander et al, 2007;Nassauer and Opdam, 2008;Scherr and McNeely, 2008;Lovell and Johnston, 2009;Chirwa and Mahamane, 2017). Thus, a selection of tree species that can be used in afforestation of dryland areas should also aim to provide at the best the above-mentioned ecosystem services, taking into account other biological characteristics (Reisman-Berman et al, 2019).…”

Managed and Unmanaged Pinus sylvestris Forest Stands Harbour Similar Diversity and Composition of the Phyllosphere and Soil Fungi

“…In Europe, coniferous forests, including Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), are widely distributed and are of enormous ecological and economic importance [15][16][17][18]. Although these forests generally have lower biodiversity than deciduous forests [4], P. sylvestris provides habitats to a large number of different organisms [19,20]. The phyllosphere, which in conifers is dominated by needles and is the key component responsible for photosynthesis and transpiration, represents one of the largest terrestrial habitats for microorganisms [21].…”