Stand-landscape integration in natural disturbance-based management of the southern boreal forest

Forest ecosystem management, based partly on a greater understanding of natural disturbance regimes, has many variations but is generally considered the most promising approach to accommodating biodiversity concerns in managed forested regions. Using the Lake Duparquet Forest in the southeastern Canadian boreal forest as an example, we demonstrate an approach that attempts to integrate forest and stand-level scales in biodiversity maintenance. The concept of cohorts is used to integrate stand age, composition and structure into broad successional or stand development phases. Mean forest age (MFA), because it partly incorporates historic variability of the regional fire cycle, is used as a target fire cycle. At the landscape level, forest composition and cohort objectives are derived from regional natural disturbance history, ecosystem classification, stand dynamics and a negative exponential age distribution based on a 140 year fire cycle. The resulting multi-cohort structure provides a framework for maintaining the landscape in a semi-natural age structure and composition. At the stand level, the approach relies on diversifying interventions, using both even-aged and uneven-aged silviculture to reflect natural stand dynamics, control the passage (“fluxes”) between forest types of different cohorts and maintain forest-level objectives. Partial and selective harvesting is intended to create the structural and compositional characteristics of mid- to late-successional forest types and, as such, offers an alternative to increasing rotation lengths to maintain ecosystem diversity associated with over-mature and old-growth forests. The approach does not however supplant the necessity for complementary strategies for maintaining biodiversity such as the creation of reserves to protect rare, old or simply natural ecosystems. The emphasis on maintaining the cohort structure and forest type diversity contrasts significantly with current even-aged management in the Canadian boreal forest and has implications for stand-level interventions, notably in necessitating a greater diversification of silvicultural practices including more uneven-aged harvesting regimes. The approach also presents a number of operational challenges and potentially higher risks associated with multiply stand entries, partial cutting and longer intervals between final harvests. There is a need for translating the conceptual model into a more quantitative silvicultural framework. Silvicultural trials have been established to evaluate stand-level responses to treatments and operational aspects of the approach.     

Monitoring managed forest structure at the compartment-level under different silvicultural heritages: An exploratory data analysis in Italy

ABSTRACT

The more and more diffused multifunctional role addressed nowadays to public forests, calls for targeted analysis aimed at highlighting the overall outcome of different practices implemented on the same forest compartment, according to the locally prevailing function. This study was carried out in four Italian beech forests across a latitudinal gradient representative of multiple management history, stand structure, and dominant stand age. We analyze forest structure at the compartment scale before and after silvicultural practices. We aim to explore relationships and similarities between 10 stand attributes (mensurational and structural variables) to identify relevant indicators for the monitoring and management of forest ecosystems. Results indicate changing patterns of correlation and similarity among mensurational variables following practice implementation. A sensitivity gradient to silvicultural practice was finally identified within the four sites investigated as a result of the diverging stand structure. Our approach suggests a way and provides an insight for the design of adaptive forestry management practices required to meet environmental targets, in addition to the already acknowledged supply of primary goods and services.     

Strategy for implementing silvicultural practices in Japanese plantation forests to meet a carbon sequestration goal

The strategy for implementing silvicultural practices in Japanese plantation forests was examined to achieve a carbon uptake of 13.0 Mt-C year^–1, which was capped by the Marrakesh Accords, during the first commitment period, 2008–2012. The plantation forests that implemented silvicultural practices in the period 1990–2012 (FM plantation forests) were identified in compliance with the hypothesized identification rules, and carbon uptake in the forests was estimated using a simple model composed of simulation and optimization components on the assumption that whole plantation forest is classified into only two groups. Furthermore, parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the relationships among three factors: (1) the average annual harvesting volume (including thinning) in plantation forests during the first commitment period, (2) the total area of FM plantation forests in 2012, and (3) the average annual amount of carbon to be sequestered in FM plantation forests during the first commitment period. The results imply that young stands have to be prioritized in implementing silvicultural practices under any harvesting plan and carbon sequestration goal, and that FM plantation forests sequestered 8.0–10.5 (Mt-C year^–1) carbon in inverse proportion to the harvesting volume of 21.0–14.0 million m³ year^–1 (log volume), assuming that most of the plantation forests were incorporated into them.     

Can we really manage tropical forests without knowing the species within? Getting back to the basics of forest management through taxonomy

Considering the pressures on tropical forests from deforestation and the recent expansion of harvesting through forest concessions in the Brazilian Amazon, it is imperative that forest management systems are scrutinized to ensure sustainability. One of the basic problems in forest management is the correct identification of species within the forest stand. While this is a well known issue, little consideration is given to how to mitigate this problem or its affects on management practices and conservation. This paper examines the current practice of forest inventories in the Brazilian Amazon, as part of the mandatory system of reduced impact logging (RIL), using extensive forest inventory verification. The results show that the RIL management plan implemented in the project area was based on a highly inaccurate forest inventory. At least 132 species or 43.5% of all species identified after botanical checking did not appear in the forest inventory and the common practice of matching vernacular names to scientific ones proved to be severely deficient. In contrast, a high percentage of field identifications based on local people's expertise were correct. We suggest changes to current practices, including the training and use of parataxonomists, the collection of samples for verification, and stricter government control over current practices, which will achieve greater accuracy in data collection and forest management planning. Ultimately, we argue that in the current climate of extensive deforestation and forest use, it is essential that all aspects of RIL systems are reevaluated in order to achieve economic and ecological sustainability.     

A linear programming algorithm and software for forest-level planning problems including factories

Combining stand simulation and forest-level optimization is an efficient way to study harvest scenarios of a forest area. A simulator first generates for each treatment unit a number of treatment schedules. Linear programming (LP) can then be used to study how stand-level schedules can be combined at the forest level with respect to alternative goals and constraints. The special structure of the obtained LP problems can be utilized using the generalized upper-bound technique which takes care of the so-called area constraints. JLP software was based on this technique. Later J software was developed to replace JLP. Now J is developed to deal with factory problems where the transportations costs and capacities of factories are included in the problem definition. The generalized upper-bound technique was modified to handle transportation constraints which tell that each timber unit produced is transported to some of the factories. The number of these constraints is very large. This paper describes the basic features of the algorithm and its implementation in the J software.     

An alternative management regime of selection cutting for sustaining stand structure of mixed forests of northern Japan: a simulation study

In uneven-aged conifer–broadleaved mixed forests in Hokkaido, northern Japan, single-tree selection cutting has been a common management practice since the early twentieth century. This practice is expected to produce timber without major changes in stand structure or tree species composition. The demographic response of forests to this practice has often been unexpected, and degradation of stand properties has been widely observed. We propose here a sustainable management regime of selection cutting, based on an individual-based forest dynamics simulation model, SORTIE-ND. Our simulations, based on demographic data from 15 long-term monitoring stands, suggest that selection cutting using a lower cutting intensity together with a longer rotation period and reduced removal of small trees and conifer species is more appropriate than traditional systems in terms of maintaining stand structure and tree species composition, as well as being profitable financially. Supplemental regeneration practices, which can counter accidental mortality incurred during harvesting operations, would also be necessary to ensure tree recruitment.     

Stone Pine Forests in Siberia

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借鉴“林分施业法” 开展天然林经营的探讨

我国天然林保护工程已经启动,许多地方的天然林已经基本上得到了有效的保护。当前急需研究的是如何进一步对已经保护起来的天然林进行科学合理的经营管理,最终达到可持续经营的目的。本文论述了日本天然林经营、研究现状,介绍了日本东京大学演习林的"林分施业法"经营技术,提出了借鉴"林分施业法"作好天然林保护工作急需研究解决的几个森林经营技术问题。     

树种选择与配置对森林生态系统服务的影响

我国森林面积和蓄积量连续增长,但造林树种单一、林分幼龄化、径级持续偏小、单位面积蓄积量低。在气候变化挑战及全球经济一体化大背景下,如何发挥森林在木材生产、生物多样性保护、固碳、涵养水源及社会文化等方面的多重服务功能以满足经济社会发展对森林的多元化需求,是我国现代林业建设的当务之急。文中通过梳理国内外相关文献,分析不同树种与配置模式和不同森林经营选择对森林生态系统服务的影响,以及对森林生态系统服务影响的模拟预测方法与工具,进而总结当前研究与实践的总体趋势,以期为我国树种选择及其优化配置、增强森林生态系统服务功能提供决策参考。     

论林分系统的存在与演变

天然森林中包含着多种类型的林分类型,各个林分系统具有自然历史确定的地理分布范围,外界的“能量流”和“物质流”都呈非均匀分布状态,因此造成林分系统“结构状态”和“演变动态”的多样性。林分系统中的各个林分与外界进行能量、物质转换的规律相似,林分内部的“优胜劣汰”规律也相似。因此可用“内部时间T(D)”：3、4、5……32所刻画的“立木度／蓄积度”序列和“株数递减率／蓄积量递增率”序列的数学模型,来描述林分从幼林到过熟林的演变过程,这就是林分系统的“周期行为”。进入过熟林分以后,林分平均直径“D”的变化无规律性,但过熟林分仍然通过“新生林木更替衰老林木”而向前演变发展,这种“非周期行为”表达了林分系统“从存在到演化”的永恒性。     

六盘山水源林林分目标层次结构研究

为适应六盘山水源林可持续经营实践的需求,利用六盘山林业局120个森林连续清查固定样地调查资料,分析了林分郁闭度对林下灌木、草本植物生长影响的规律,建立了适用于当地的数学模型,提出了该区水源林林分的目标层次结构。结果表明:1)该区水源林林分郁闭度影响林下植被的生长,林下灌木层、草本层盖度随林分郁闭度升高而降低;2)该林区水源林林分郁闭度保持在0.5～0.8之间时能够形成明显的乔灌草层次结构,有利于实现水源林经营的生态功能和经济功能的协调;3)该区水源林林分的目标层次结构为,林分郁闭度0.5～0.8,灌木层盖度35%～46%,草本层盖度35%～46%。研究结果可为该区水源林结构调整提供依据。     

人工林地力衰退研究

通过查阅大量文献，在前人对人工林地力衰退研究的基础上，论述了国内外有关人工林地力衰退研究的历史及现状；从不同的角度论述了人工林地力衰退的原因，如不合理的营林措施、连栽、纯林等；并在此基础上综述了人工林地力衰退的防治研究，如调整林分结构、营造混交林、改善现有营林制度等；概述了人上林地力衰退的最新进展及今后的研究方向。     

北京地区水源涵养林健康评价指标体系的探讨

在科学性、可操作性和灵敏性原则的指导下,以森林生态学和系统论为基础,采用复合结构功能指标法,整合国内外森林健康和水源涵养林研究新成果,结合北京地区自然条件和森林植被的具体情况,提出了一套评价北京地区林分级水源涵养林健康的指标体系及评价方法,并以北京市密云水库上游雾灵山水源涵养林为研究对象开展了实例研究。     

神农架林区森林资源可持续发展途径探讨

笔者以神农架林区为例,用全面规划、总体布局的观点分析林区资源特点与利用现状问题,并以天然林保护工程为重点,实现森林保护多种效益的永续利用为目标,以探讨我省国有林区森林资源可持续发展的有效途径,提出国有林区森林资源可持续发展的关键是对现有林科学合理地经营和管护,并指出在禁伐区、一般公益林区和商品林区应采取的不同策略。     

Structural and compositional controls on transpiration in 40- and 450-year-old riparian forests in western Oregon, USA

Large areas of forests in the Pacific Northwest are being transformed to younger forests, yet little is known about the impact this may have on hydrological cycles. Previous work suggests that old trees use less water per unit leaf area or sapwood area than young mature trees of the same species in similar environments. Do old forests, therefore, use less water than young mature forests in similar environments, or are there other structural or compositional components in the forests that compensate for tree-level differences? We investigated the impacts of tree age, species composition and sapwood basal area on stand-level transpiration in adjacent watersheds at the H.J. Andrews Forest in the western Cascades of Oregon, one containing a young, mature (about 40 years since disturbance) conifer forest and the other an old growth (about 450 years since disturbance) forest. Sap flow measurements were used to evaluate the degree to which differences in age and species composition affect water use. Stand sapwood basal area was evaluated based on a vegetation survey for species, basal area and sapwood basal area in the riparian area of two watersheds. A simple scaling exercise derived from estimated differences in water use as a result of differences in age, species composition and stand sapwood area was used to estimate transpiration from late June through October within the entire riparian area of these watersheds. Transpiration was higher in the young stand because of greater sap flux density (sap flow per unit sapwood area) by age class and species, and greater total stand sapwood area. During the measurement period, mean daily sap flux density was 2.30 times higher in young compared with old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees. Sap flux density was 1.41 times higher in young red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) compared with young P. menziesii trees, and was 1.45 times higher in old P. menziesii compared with old western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) trees. Overall, sapwood basal area was 21% higher in the young stand than in the old stand. In the old forest, T. heterophylla is an important co-dominant, accounting for 58% of total sapwood basal area, whereas P. menziesii is the only dominant conifer in the young stand. Angiosperms accounted for 36% of total sapwood basal area in the young stand, but only 7% in the old stand. For all factors combined, we estimated 3.27 times more water use by vegetation in the riparian area of the young stand over the measurement period. Tree age had the greatest effect on stand differences in water use, followed by differences in sapwood basal area, and finally species composition. The large differences in transpiration provide further evidence that forest management alters site water balance via elevated transpiration in vigorous young stands.     

Modelling the Growth and Management of Mixed Uneven-aged Maritime Pine - Broadleaved Species Forests in Galicia,North-western Spain

The state of mixed forests of maritime pine ( Pinus pinaster Ait.) and broadleaved species in the coastal region of Galicia (north-western Spain) was described using data from 213 circular sample plots selected among the available 4700 plots of the Spanish National Inventory. A matrix model was developed for this forest type to obtain information about the productivity and potential for sustainable management. The broadleaved species had a diameter distribution close to the inverted J-shape typical of the uneven-aged forests but for maritime pine there were many medium-sized trees and a lack of trees in the first diameter class of 15 cm. The matrix growth model was used to predict the development of mixed forests for three different management options: no harvesting in a well-stocked stand, a regime with a 5 yr harvest cycle and a residual basal area of 15 m 2 ha -1 in a well-stocked stand, and a rehabilitation management applied to an understocked stand. The results showed the possibility of applying uneven-aged silvicultural systems to these forests, leading to the production of high-value timber and to the maintenance of continuous cover and a biodiverse forest.     

低效林改造研究综述

低效林的大面积产生严重阻碍了林业的可持续发展。文中介绍了低效林的概念, 分析了自然因素、人为干扰等导致低效林形成的主要原因, 将低效林划分为低效防护林和低质低产林, 提出一系列低效林评判标准, 讨论了补植补播、调整改造、封育改造、效应带改造等主要的低效林改造方法, 最后指出低效林改造过程中需要注意的一些问题。     

竹林生态经营类型探讨

传统竹林经营多以获取最大经济效益为出发点,较少关注竹林的生态效益,竹林分类经营可充分发挥竹林的多种效益。文章根据林地权属、区域分布、立地类型,林分起源、竹种、林分组成、生产力水平和经营目标等影响竹林经营的8大因子,将竹林划分为森林竹林、农作竹林、园林竹林、种质资源竹林4大类,并分析了每种类型的经营目标和主要经营措施。     

近自然森林经营理论在龙里林场国家储备林改培中的应用

指出了龙里林场现有国家储备林中以马尾松人工林为主,树种结构单纯、层次结构简单、生态效益差、生态系统脆弱,容易发生雪压、风倒、火灾,松毛虫危害严重。为了改善林场马尾松人工林的健康状况,提高物种多样性和生态稳定性,优化林分的树种、水平、垂直结构,进一步提高林分质量,模仿马尾松自然演替规律,通过择伐,在林下补植了乡土珍贵树种,以把马尾松人工林尽可能地改造为接近自然状态的异龄针阔混交林,结果表明:近自然改造具有如下优点:①确保了持续的主林层郁闭,实现了森林的永续利用。②将培育珍贵树种与马尾松大径材有机结合起来,兼顾了森林的经济、生态、社会效益。③有利于提高林分质量,保证了森林的健康可持续发展。     

青海省次生林区天然云杉林的直径分布研究

利用2018年青海省连续清查固定样地调查数据,对次生林区的天然云杉林进行直径分布研究,按照林分单位蓄积量分为A类、B类、C类和D类4种类型;选用Weibull分布、Beta分布和负指数分布对各类型林分直径分布进行拟合。结果得出:A类和D类直径分布服从Beta分布,B类服从Weibull分布,C类服从负指数分布;模型拟合的相关系数R^2均在0.94以上,各类型林分q值在1.18~1.98之间,次生林区的林分q均值为1.41。