Trends in North American and European regeneration research under the ecosystem management paradigm

Abstract

Forest management on many ownerships in North America and Europe has shifted toward the ecosystem management paradigm. The associated shift toward multiple management objectives and focus on natural development patterns should also be reflected in regeneration research efforts. As new information needs arise, research questions and approaches should be evaluated whether they are still appropriate. Specifically, spatial and temporal scales of research studies need to be expanded to accommodate complex sets of management objectives and constraints, rather than being focused on optimal tree regeneration. At the same time, silviculturists are asked to utilize natural trends as a guide for management, but most natural disturbance studies have focused on stand structures and not the regeneration processes. Criteria commonly used to describe disturbance regimes need to be modified to better guide regeneration research efforts under the ecosystem management paradigm.

Climate-growth relationships and pointer year analysis of a Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) chronology from the Mongolian mountain forest steppe compared to white birch (Betula platyphylla Sukaczev)

“…In contrast to the birch, larch has a particularly thick bark (Martinsson and Lesinski 2007), which is an important protective mechanism against surface fires. The severity of disturbances occurring in forest ecosystems is commonly described by the degree of removal of overstory trees (Puettmann and Ammer 2007). Low intensity surface fires favor the selection of fire-tolerant trees, whereas high-intensity fire events, which usually include crown fires, can prompt the stand replacement process and promote stand development by creating favorable conditions for new growth and successional stages (Goldammer and Furyaev 1996).…”

Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) stands on former agricultural land in the Sudetes – evaluation of ecological value and production potential

“…In order to consider silvicultural practices in the face of projected global climate change and the increasing demand for ecosystem services (Spiecker et al, 2004;Puettmann & Ammer, 2007;Foster et al, 2010;Barbati et al, 2014), it is necessary to thoroughly understand the dynamics and adaptability of forest ecosystems (Lindenmayer et al, 2000;Baycheva et al, 2013). Only then is it possible to successfully adapt the methods of sustainable and near-natural management of forest ecosystems to future changing climate Coote et al, 2012;Oxbrough et al, 2014).…”

Silviculture for old-growth attributes

“…While these two aspects are part of ''traditional'' silvicultural practices, the new suite of restoration objectives provides unique challenges. For example, while traditional silvicultural systems are designed to optimize conditions for regenerating seedlings, overstorey densities specified in restoration treatments may be driven by wildlife habitat objectives, which are suboptimal for regeneration (Puettmann and Ammer, 2007). Furthermore, silvicultural restoration prescriptions need to address a variety of other components of stand structure and composition, such as canopy and crown structures as well as understorey vegetation typically found in oldgrowth (Table 1) (Franklin et al, 1981;Davis, 1996).…”