Tree retention as a conservation measure in clear-cut forests of northern Europe: a review of ecological consequences

Abstract:Forest biomass is an important energy source in Sweden and some other European countries. In this paper we estimate the physically available (i.e., total potential) forest biomass for energy from annual forest harvesting or in the total standing stock (2008) in Sweden. To place Sweden's forest resources into perspective we relate this to an estimated need for renewable energy sources in Europe. As Swedish forests supply a range of goods and ecosystem services, and as forest biomass is often bulky and expensive to procure, we also discuss issues that affect the amount of forest biomass that is actually available for energy production. We conclude that forests will contribute to Sweden's renewable energy potential, but to a limited extent and expectations must be realistic and take techno-economical and environmental issues into consideration. To meet future energy needs in Sweden and Europe, a full suite of renewable energy resources will be needed, along with efficient conversion systems. A long-term sustainable supply of forest resources for energy and other uses can be obtained if future harvest levels are increased until they are equal to the annual growth increment. Delivering more than this would require increasing forest productivity through more intensive management. The new management regimes would have to begin now because it takes a long time to change annual production in temperate and boreal forests. OPEN ACCESSForests 2011, 2 579

show abstract

“…As slash and stumps are dead wood, some of it should be retained to maintain biodiversity in managed forests [39].…”

Section: Other Constraints Limiting the Potential Of Forest Energymentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives on the Potential Contribution of Swedish Forests to Renewable Energy Targets in Europe

Egnell

Laudon

Rosvall

2011

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These can be described as either ecological restoration practices (Stanturf and Madsen 2002 ), e.g. extending thinning rotation periods, regulating stem density and regeneration to match wildlife habitat requirements, and mimic the effects of natural disturbances (Bergeron et al 2007 ;Silver et al 2013 ) or retention forestry (Beese et al 2003 ;Gustafsson et al 2010 ). Gustafsson et al ( 2012 ) defined retention forestry as "an approach to forest management based on the long-term retention of structures and organisms, such as live and dead trees and small areas of intact forests, at the time of harvest".…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of old-growth characteristics in uneven-aged forests of the Italian Alps

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the last millennia, all forests of the Italian Alps have been heavily affected by human land-use. Consequently, forest structures have been modified, and there are no old growth remains. In the last decades, however, many forests have been withdrawn from regular management, because wood production was unprofitable, and left to develop naturally. At the same time, in currently managed forests, silvicultural systems able to develop or maintain old-growth characteristics are being required.

show abstract

“…It refers to the retention of part of the living trees or dead wood on the harvested site in order to provide structural legacies similar to those that occur after natural forest disturbances. These legacies increase the structural variability of the sites (Gustafsson et al, 2010;Kruys et al, 2013;Lõhmus et al, 2013) and enhance habitat connectivity at a landscape scale (Franklin et al, 1997). The retained trees can also "life-boat" populations of species on the harvested site through the early successional phases Baker et al, 2015) to function as dispersal sources in the regenerating forest stand (Sillett and Goslin, 1999;Hedenås and Hedström, 2007).…”

Section: Retention Forestry and Prescribed Burningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retention forestry and intensified biomass harvest: epiphytic lichen assemblages under opposing ecological effects in pine-dominated boreal forests

Hämäläinen¹

2016

Diss. For.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Intensive forestry has led to changes in the structure and function of boreal forests and to the endangerment of forest-dwelling species. Different management methods, such as retention forestry, have been developed to counter the negative biodiversity impacts, although forest use has intensified at the same time: for example, stumps and logging residues are commonly harvested for biofuel. This thesis examines the potential impacts of biofuel harvest, retention forestry and prescribed burning on epiphytic lichen assemblages in pine-dominated boreal forests. In addition, post-harvest dynamics of retention trees were studied to assess their capacity to support species diversity in the early successional forests. The study is based on a large, empirical dataset collected in eastern Finland from 24 study sites that were treated experimentally with a combination of retention harvest and prescribed burning, and, additionally, from 13 sites that represent different stages of forest succession.The results show that retention forestry has the potential to maintain pre-harvest legacies and support high lichen diversity on harvested sites: 85 lichen species, including Red-Listed species and dead wood specialists, were recorded on retained Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) or their dead wood legacies 11 years post-harvest. However, the outcome of retention forestry is affected by post-harvest mortality rates and the fall patterns of the retained trees, which in turn differ depending on the retention tree volume, possible application of prescribed burning, and tree-level factors.Prescribed burning of harvested sites increased retention tree mortality rates and decreased epiphytic lichen richness 11-12 years post-fire. However, in combination with high retention volumes, burning created more diverse dead wood habitats than retention forestry alone. Thus, despite the initial negative effect, the application of prescribed burning on part of the harvested sites could eventually increase lichen diversity at the landscape scale.Scots pine stumps on harvested sites hosted 83 lichen species, and may be a valuable habitat resource for wood-dwelling lichens if dead wood volumes in the landscape are otherwise low. Therefore, large-scale stump harvest may decrease lichen diversity. Instead, fine woody debris was found to be a less valuable substrate for epiphytic lichens and could be harvested for biofuel without notable effects on lichen populations.This study shows that retention forestry can be used to enhance lichen species richness in managed forests, while stump harvest has the opposite effect by reducing lichens' habitats. Prescribed burning decreases lichen species richness at the stand scale but may enhance it at the landscape scale, provided that burning is avoided on the most valuable, lichen-rich stands.

show abstract

Tree retention as a conservation measure in clear-cut forests of northern Europe: a review of ecological consequences

Cited by 209 publications

References 103 publications

Perspectives on the Potential Contribution of Swedish Forests to Renewable Energy Targets in Europe

Perspectives on the Potential Contribution of Swedish Forests to Renewable Energy Targets in Europe

Development of old-growth characteristics in uneven-aged forests of the Italian Alps

Retention forestry and intensified biomass harvest: epiphytic lichen assemblages under opposing ecological effects in pine-dominated boreal forests

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About