Tree mortality after low-intensity prescribed fires in managed Pinus sylvestris stands in southern Finland

Abstract

Tree mortality, its causes, and the input of dead charred wood were studied in 11 managed 30–45-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands 1 year after experimental low-intensity prescribed burnings in southern Finland. First, the relationship between fire-induced tree damage and several external variables, e.g. stand density, within-stand wind speed, open-air wind speed, the Finnish Forest Fire Index (FFI) and flame height, was studied. Secondly, the study examined which damage and morphological characteristics best predicted tree mortality. Tree mortality was very variable in the experimental plots, ranging from 0% to 48% on the basis of stem number and from 0% to 41% in terms of wood volume. The input of dead and charred wood decreased with stand age, being 19.4 m³ ha^?1 in 30–35-year-old stands, but only 1.7 m³ ha^?1 in 45-year-old stands. The input of dead wood was on average 10 m³ ha^?1, representing less than 5% of the mean volume before the prescribed fire. The external variables that best explained fire-induced damage were within-stand wind speed, flame height and FFI. Tree mortality was best predicted by charred stem ratio with bark thickness, and by charred stem ratio with tree diameter. The results indicate that prescribed burning that is conducted downwind increases tree mortality and changes subsequent stand structure with increasing within-stand wind speed.     

Structure of a Central-European mountain spruce old-growth forest with respect to historical development

This study examines the structural characteristics of the tree layer, dead wood, canopy openings, and regeneration patterns of a spruce old-growth forest in the Bohemian Forest, Czech Republic. An old-growth stand with minor human influence and a stand that was presumably logged about 200 years ago were analyzed and compared, as some forest managers considered the presumable human impact as a reason for salvage logging. Even though the stands differed in tree density, height and DBH structure, it was not possible to conclude whether it was due to management history or the environmental differences. The volume of dead wood also differed between the stands. There was about 142 and 83 m³ ha⁻¹ of dead wood in the old-growth stand and presumably logged stand, respectively. The amount of dead wood found in the old-growth stand was comparable with values reported from spruce old-growth stands across Central Europe. In both stands, many canopy trees were arranged in linear patterns, which was a result of spruce regeneration on nurse logs. This suggests that the origin and development of the stands were characterized by natural processes and during the past 200 years typical old-growth structural characteristics have already evolved.     

Thinning increases drought tolerance of European beech: a case study on two forested slopes on opposite sides of a valley

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the economically most important broadleaved tree species in Central Europe. However, beech shows high drought sensitivity and calls for profound research to test its ability to cope with limited water resources. Here, we investigated the drought tolerance of beech to the 2003 drought as influenced by Kraft class, aspect and thinning intensity. Annual basal area increment data of 126 sample trees from southwest Germany were used to assess the variability of drought tolerance indices, by comparing three social classes (predominant, dominant and co-dominant), two contrasting sites [a dry southwest (SW) aspect and a moist northeast (NE) aspect], and three treatments [control, strong thinning (stand basal area 15 m² ha^?1) and very strong thinning (stand basal area 10 m² ha^?1)] in mature beech stands. Our results show that the co-dominant and dominant trees had lower growth recovery and lower growth resilience after the drought, compared to the predominant trees. The differences between aspects pointed to a growth–drought tolerance trade-off, in which trees on the SW aspect displayed lower growth rates but higher resilience indices than trees on the moist NE aspect. Furthermore, our results suggest that the resistance to and resilience after the 2003 drought significantly increased for the thinned trees. Our results provide novel insights into the linkage between the forest stand management and drought tolerance of beech under contrasting sites. We conclude that thinning can partially alleviate effects of severe drought on European beech forests in southwest Germany and can be applied as an adaptive measure to increase the mitigation potential of beech stands.     

Parent tree effects on reestablishment of Acacia koa in abandoned pasture and the influence of initial density on stand development

Increasingly private landholders in Hawaii are considering native forest restoration for their lands, and some public agencies have already started such work. Initial efforts have focused on reestablishing Acacia koa to recover alien-grass-dominated sites. This study was done in Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Island of Hawaii, to determine the efficacy of disk plowing to stimulate natural regeneration of koa from buried seeds. Sites with four different koa parent tree configurations were treated–single live overhead koa canopy, multiple live canopies, downed snags, and no parent koa tree. Tree growth and survival were assessed periodically over 21 years. Average initial stand densities ranged from 100 to 1,500 trees ha^?1 of scarified land, although some open areas had as few as 20 trees ha^?1. The distributions of seedlings with increasing distance from plot center were variable within and between parent tree configurations. Initial seedling density was significantly greater for the multiple-live-parent than for the no-parent configuration. Densities for the single-live and dead configurations differed from the no-parent configuration only when densities were based on the entire scarified area of each plot. Stand densities declined 10–67 % during the next 20 years. Survival was a negative, non-linear function of initial stand density. Initial stand density exerted strong control over stem diameter and crown size at age 21-years, but had little effect on the proportion of trees with single-stems. The relationships between stand basal area and density at 21 years conformed to the existing koa stocking guidelines. While moderate to high densities of natural regeneration can be expected from scarifying around live and dead koa trees, single trees or low density stands are likely in open areas.     

Diversity and spatio-temporal dynamics of dead wood in a temperate near-natural beech forest (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis>)

The diversity, spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of dead wood were examined within the near-natural beech forests (Fagus sylvatica) of Serrahn (North-eastern Germany). Data were collected in an 8 ha sample plot and in two permanent plots (0.36 and 0.25 ha) that had been established at the end of the 1960s. The mean volume of dead wood was 94 m³ ha⁻¹, amounting to 14% of the total volume of all trees. The dead wood displayed a large variation in dead wood type, tree size and decay class. Standing dead wood accounted for about one-third of the total dead wood volume. The densities of standing dead trees were about 10% of the densities of the living trees over a wide range of diameters. The overall spatial distribution of dead trees exhibited a random pattern. Among the different dead wood types, standing entire dead trees and uprooted trees deviated from this pattern by displaying a significantly aggregated pattern. In the permanent plots a high mortality of overstorey trees was observed (1.3% year⁻¹) and the average amount of dead wood increased greatly from 2.9 to 111.6 m³ ha⁻¹ over the 35-year observation period. The near-natural beech forests of Serrahn have experienced a long period of low human interference. Nevertheless, our results suggest that the structure and dynamics of dead wood are strongly affected by the last major disturbance events that took place at the end of the Middle Ages. Information about the forest history is therefore a basic requirement when interpreting the results obtained in near-natural forests.     

Prediction of tree height,basal area and stem volume in forest stands using airborne laser scanning

The aim of this study was to develop prediction models using laser scanning for estimation of forest variables at plot level, validate the estimations at stand level (area 0.64 ha) and test the effect of different laser measurement densities on the estimation errors. The predictions were validated using 29 forest stands (80×80 m²), each containing 16 field plots with a 10 m radius. For the best tested case, mean tree height, basal area and stem volume were predicted with a root mean square error of 0.59 m (3% of average value), 2.7 m² ha^?1 (10% of average value) and 31 m³ ha^?1 (11% of average value), respectively, at stand level. There were small differences in terms of prediction errors for different measuring densities. The results indicate that mean tree height, basal area and stem volume can be estimated in small stands with low laser measurement densities producing accuracies similar to traditional field inventories.     

Long-term response to area of competition control in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis> plantations

Numerous studies have quantified the responses to vegetation management in Eucalyptus plantations but most publications have reported early responses in tree growth and a gap in knowledge exist about the magnitude and duration of growth responses throughout the whole rotation. We evaluated the long-term response (9 years-old) of E. globulus across a gradient of sites to different intensity levels of free area of competing vegetation around individual tree seedlings. Competing vegetation intensity levels considered free areas ranging between 0 (control) to 2.54 m² plus a treatment with total weed control. Competing vegetation biomass production during the first growing season was 2.9, 6.5, 2.2 and 12.9 Mg ha^?1, for sites ranging from low to high annual rainfall. Across sites, maximum response in stand volume ranged between 58 and 262 m³ ha^?1 at age 9 years and was proportional to the amount of competing biomass controlled during the first growing season. Total competing vegetation control showed the largest response in stand volume at sites with 2.9 and 12.9 Mg ha^?1 of competing vegetation. However, the 2.54 m² vegetation control treatment showed the maximum response for sites with 2.2 and 6.5 Mg ha^?1 of competing vegetation. The duration of response for vegetation control treatments ranged between 5 and 9 years. However, at the site with the largest accumulation of competing vegetation biomass the response to vegetation control showed a sustained and divergent response. Our results suggest that vegetation control improved site resources acquisition increasing long-term stand productivity by reducing environmental limitations to tree growth differentially at each site.     

Variation of stem density and vegetation carbon pool in subtropical forests of Northwestern Himalaya

The present study was conducted in five forest types of subtropical zone in the Northwestern Himalaya, India. Three forest stands of 0.1 ha were laid down in each forest type to study the variation in vegetation carbon pool, stem density, and ecosystem carbon density. The stem density in the present study ranged from (483 to 417 trees ha^?1) and stem biomass from (262.40 to 39.97 tha^?1). Highest carbon storage (209.95 t ha^?1) was recorded in dry Shiwalik sal forest followed by Himalayan chir forest > chir pine plantation > lower Shiwalik pine forest > northern mixed dry deciduous forest. Maximum tree above ground biomass is observed in dry Shiwalik sal forests (301.78 t ha^?1), followed by upper Himalayan chir pine forests (194 t ha^?1) and lower in Shiwalik pine forests (138.73 t ha^?1). The relationship with stem volume showed the maximum adjusted r² (0.873), followed by total density (0.55) and average DBH (0.528). The regression equation of different parameters with shrub biomass showed highest r² (0.812) and relationship between ecosystem carbon with other parameters of different forest types, where cubic function with stem volume showed highest r² value of 0.873 through cubic functions. Our results suggest that biomass and carbon stocks in these subtropical forests vary greatly with forest type and species density. This variation among forests can be used as a tool for carbon credit claims under ongoing international conventions and protocols.     

Optimal management of Korean pine plantations in multifunctional forestry

Korean pine is one of the most important plantation species in northeast China.Besides timber,it produces edible nuts and plantations sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.This study optimized the management of Korean pine plantations for timber production,seed production,carbon sequestration and for the joint production of multiple benefits.As the first step,models were developed for stand dynamics and seed production.These models were used in a simulation–optimization system to find optimal timing and type of thinning treatments and optimal rotation lengths.It was found that three thinnings during the rotation period were optimal.When the amount or profitability of timber production is maximized,suitable rotation lengths are 65–70 years and wood production is 5.5–6.0 m~3 ha~(-1) a~(-1).The optimal thinning regime is thinning from above.In seed production,optimal rotation lengths are over 100 years.When carbon sequestration in living biomass is maximized,stands should not be clear-cut until trees start to die due to senescence.In the joint production of multiple benefits,the optimal rotation length is 86 years if all benefits(wood,economic profits,seed,carbon sequestration) are equally important.In this management schedule,mean annual wood production is 5.5 m~2 ha~(-1) and mean annual seed yield 141 kg ha~(-1).It was concluded that it is better to produce timber and seeds in the same stands rather than assign stands to either timber production or seed production.     

Productivity of mixed versus pure stands of oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Quercus robur L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along an ecological gradient

The mixture of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and oak (sessile oak, Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., and pedunculate oak, Q. robur L.) is of considerable importance in Europe and will probably become even more important under climate change. Therefore, the performance of oak and beech in mixture was compared with the species’ growth in pure stands. Data from 37 long-term mixing experiments in Poland, Germany and Switzerland were pooled for analysis of mixing effects on stand productivity and possible interrelationships with mixing portions or site conditions. We found that on average, mixed stands of oak and beech exceeded biomass productivity in pure stands by 30 % or 1.7 t ha^?1 year^?1, as the growth of both species was benefitted by the mixture. However, that the interaction actually ranged from facilitation and overyielding on poor sites to underyielding on fertile sites triggered by competition. An empirically derived interaction model showed volume and dry mass growth changing in mixed stands from gains of 50 % to losses of 10 % depending on site conditions. It is concluded that the analysed mixture grows in accordance with the stress-gradient hypothesis and that our results suggest a site-specific relationship between species mixture and biomass productivity. As a consequence, an adequate species mix should result in increased productivity under steady state as well as climate change.     

Recruitment of tree species in mixed selection and irregular shelterwood forest stands

Context

Recruitment is an important process in forest stand dynamics, especially in uneven-aged stands. Continuous recruitment is a prerequisite for diverse, uneven-aged silvicultural systems, but patterns may vary significantly.

Aims

The main goals of the study were to examine the recruitment of the main tree species in selection and irregular shelterwood stands in silver fir?CEuropean beech?CNorway spruce forests and to determine the main predictors of the recruitment occurrence.

Methods

Data from 5,486 permanent inventory plots were used to study recruitment of saplings into the tree layer (diameter at breast height ??10?cm).

Results

Recruitment rate differed significantly between selection (7.6?trees?ha^?1?year^?1) and irregular shelterwood (26.1?trees?ha^?1?year^?1) stands. Shade-tolerant fir and beech recruited with higher probability in selection stands, while light-dependent sycamore recruited with higher probability in irregular stands. In addition, forest types, soil pH, stand basal area, mean diameter, and the basal area of the same tree species with respect to recruitment were found to be important predictors of recruitment occurrence.

Conclusions

The application of different uneven-aged silvicultural systems and their forms makes it possible to considerably influence the future tree species composition of uneven-aged forests.     

Productivity of successive rotations of Acacia mangium plantations in Sumatra,Indonesia: impacts of harvest and inter-rotation site management

The impacts of wood harvest, biomass removal and inter-rotation site management practices on productivity of Acacia mangium in South Sumatra were studied over 12 years across successive rotations. The productivity measured as MAI increased from 29.4 m³ ha^?1 year^?1 in the first to 48.0 m³ ha^?1 year^?1 in the second rotation. Whole tree harvesting (total stem, branches and leaves) caused a 21 % reduction in volume compared to harvesting merchantable wood alone in the next rotation. The rates of nutrients accumulation in trees were highest during the first year of growth, and declined from age 2 years. Significant amounts of nutrients were recycled through litter fall from 1 year after planting. Results highlight the importance of management which promotes nutrient supply on stand growth. Removal of slash and litter lowered soil pH, by about 0.1 unit. A small reduction was also found in soil organic carbon and nitrogen in the top soil during the first 3–4 years but values returned to pre-harvest levels by the end of the rotation. Extractable soil phosphorus and exchangeable cations decreased by the end of second rotation but these measures underestimate the nutrient pools available for A. mangium. These findings along with results from other studies have helped to implement operations which promote conservation of site resources for sustainable production in the region.     

Forest variable estimation using photogrammetric matching of digital aerial images in combination with a high-resolution DEM

Abstract

The rapid development in aerial digital cameras in combination with the increased availability of high-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) provides a renaissance for photogrammetry in forest management planning. Tree height, stem volume, and basal area were estimated for forest stands using canopy height, density, and texture metrics derived from photogrammetric matching of digital aerial images and a high-resolution DEM. The study was conducted at a coniferous hemi-boreal site in southern Sweden. Three different data-sets of digital aerial images were used to test the effects of flight altitude and stereo overlap on an area-based estimation of forest variables. Metrics were calculated for 344 field plots (10 m radius) from point cloud data and used in regression analysis. Stand level accuracy was evaluated using leave-one-out cross validation of 24 stands. For these stands the tree height ranged from 4.8 to 26.9 m (17.8 m mean), stem volume 13.3 to 455 m³ ha^?1 (250 m³ ha^?1 mean), and basal area from 4.1 to 42.9 m² ha^?1 (27.1 m² ha^?1 mean) with mean stand size of 2.8 ha. The results showed small differences in estimation accuracy of forest variables between the data-sets. The data-set of digital aerial images corresponding to the standard acquisition of the Swedish National Land Survey (Lantmäteriet), showed Root Mean Square Errors (in percent of the surveyed stand mean) of 8.8% for tree height, 13.1% for stem volume and 14.9% for basal area. The results imply that photogrammetric matching of digital aerial images has significant potential for operational use in forestry.     

Stocks and dynamics of soil organic carbon and coarse woody debris in three managed and unmanaged temperate forests

The effect of forest conservation on the organic carbon (C) stock of temperate forest soils is hardly investigated. Coarse woody debris (CWD) represents an important C reservoir in unmanaged forests and potential source of C input to soils. Here, we compared aboveground CWD and soil C stocks at the stand level of three unmanaged and three adjacent managed forests in different geological and climatic regions of Bavaria, Germany. CWD accumulated over 40–100 years and yielded C stocks of 11 Mg C ha^?1 in the unmanaged spruce forest and 23 and 30 Mg C ha^?1 in the two unmanaged beech–oak forests. C stocks of the organic layer were smaller in the beech–oak forests (8 and 19 Mg C ha^?1) and greater in the spruce forest (36 Mg C ha^?1) than the C stock of CWD. Elevated aboveground CWD stocks did not coincide with greater C stocks in the organic layers and the mineral soils of the unmanaged forests. However, radiocarbon signatures of the O _e and O _a horizons differed among unmanaged and managed beech–oak forests. We attributed these differences to partly faster turnover of organic C, stimulated by greater CWD input in the unmanaged forest. Alternatively, the slower turnover of organic C in the managed forests resulted from lower litter quality following thinning or different tree species composition. Radiocarbon signatures of water-extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the top mineral soils point to CWD as potent DOC source. Our results suggest that 40–100 years of forest protection is too short to generate significant changes in C stocks and radiocarbon signatures of forest soils at the stand level.     

Habitat factors for land snails in European beech forests with a special focus on coarse woody debris

Analyses of land snails and habitat factors in acid beech forests were conducted in southern Germany (northern Bavaria). The objectives were to study the effects of habitat characteristics on snail density and species richness. Habitat structures were determined for 37 plots in one big forest. We found a significant relationship between the number of snail species and individuals and the following set of habitat factors coverage of herbaceous layer, growing stock, mean diameter at breast height of the three largest trees (DBHmax), stand age, total dead wood volume per ha, and advanced decomposed dead wood volume per ha. We use maximally selected rank statistics to estimate cutpoints separating stands with low densities, from stands with high snail densities. Here, we define cutpoints for a significant higher snail density at a stand age of 187 years, 57 m³/ha dead wood, 40 m³/ha advanced decomposed dead wood, 63 cm DBHmax and more than 1% herbaceous layer. For species richness, cutpoints are estimated at 338 m³/ha stand volume, 170 years stand age, 50 m³/ha total dead wood amount, 15 m³/ha advanced decomposed dead wood and 56 cm DBHmax. The microhabitat analysis shows a higher pH value and a higher Calcium content at the bottom of large snags and under large lying dead wood pieces in comparison to litter, upper mineral soil and at the bottom of vital living trees. Snail species and individual density are significantly linked to these patterns of chemical parameters. The identified cutpoints are a good base for ecological management decisions in forest management.     

Deadwood volume assessment in Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) peri-urban forests: Comparison between two sampling methods

In the Sustainable Forest Management, deadwood is a fundamental substrate for numerous species, and a key factor in carbon and nutrient cycles. The main aim of the paper is to estimate the amount of deadwood in two Calabrian pine forests (Monte Morello in Italy; Xanthi in Greece) characterized by different stand conditions and management practices. The second aim is to compare two different sampling methods to estimate the volume of lying deadwood: the fixed-area sampling (FAS) method and the line intersect sampling (LIS) method. The results show that the Monte Morello peri-urban forest is characterized by a high quantity of deadwood (75.1 m³ ha^?1) divided in 80% of lying deadwood, 18% of standing dead trees, and 2% of stumps. The Xanthi peri-urban forest is characterized by a total amount of deadwood of 9.21 m³ ha^?1 divided in 34% of lying deadwood, 18% of standing dead trees and 48% of stumps. The mean volume of lying deadwood in Monte Morello estimated using the FAS is 59.91 m³ ha^?1, while using the LIS the mean volume is 64.9 m³ ha^?1. In the Xanthi, the mean volume of lying deadwood is 3.11 m³ ha^?1 using FAS and 5.49 m³ ha^?1 using LIS.     

Biomass production,nutrient cycling and distribution in age-sequence Chinese fir (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cunninghamia lanceolate</Emphasis>) plantations in subtropical China

Biomass production and nutrient (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) accumulation, distribution and cycling were quantified in young, mature and over-mature (10-, 22-, and 34-year old) Chinese fir [Cunninghamia lanceolate (Lamb.) Hook] plantations in southern China. Total stand biomass of young, mature and over-mature stands was 38, 104 and 138 t ha^?1 respectively. Biomass production increased significantly with age. Stem wood represented the highest percentage of stand biomass, accounting for 41, 55 and 63 % in the young, mature and over-mature plantations respectively. Nutrients concentration was highest in live needles and branches, and lowest in stem wood. The plantations accumulated more N, followed by K, Ca, Mg, and P. Nutrient return amount, nutrient utilization efficiency, nutrient turnover time, the ratio of nutrient return and uptake increased with stand age, which implies that young Chinese fir deplete soil nutrients to maintain growth, and efficiently utilize nutrients to decrease dependence on soil nutrients as they age. Harvesting young Chinese fir plantations would therefore lead to high nutrient loss, but prolonging the rotation length could improve soil recovery, and help sustain productivity in the long-term. Improved nutrient return through litterfall as stands get older may also be beneficial to nutrient pool recovery.     

Estimation of forest stem volume using multispectral optical satellite and tree height data in combination

Abstract

The accuracy of forest stem volume estimation at stand level was investigated using multispectral optical satellite and tree height data in combination. The stem volumes for the investigated coniferous stands, located in southern Sweden, were in the range of 15–585 m³ ha^?1 with an average stem volume of 266 m³ ha^?1. The results from regression analysis showed a substantial improvement for the combined stem volume estimates compared with using satellite data only. The accuracy in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated to 11.2% of the average stem volume using SPOT-4 data and tree height data in combination compared with 23.9% using SPOT-4 data only. By replacing SPOT-4 data with Landsat TM data the RMSE was improved from 25.2% to 12.2%. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed on the combined stem volume estimates by adding random errors, normally distributed with zero expectations, with standard deviations of 1, 1.5 and 2 m to tree height data. The results showed that the RMSE increased with increasing random tree height error to 15.4%, 18.0% and 19.9% using SPOT-4 data and 16.3%, 19.2% and 21.2% using Landsat TM data. The results imply that multispectral optical satellite data in combination with accurate tree height data could be used for standwise stem volume estimation in forestry applications.     

Accumulation of dead wood in abandoned beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in northwestern Germany

Currently, there is much debate about what strategy is most suitable for increasing old-growth attributes in forests that have been managed intensively for wood production in the past. Passive restoration, i.e. cessation of forestry interventions, should be considered when the old-growth attributes desired can be restored within a feasible period of time.Our study focuses on standing and lying coarse dead wood (≥20 cm diameter) in beech-dominated forests in northwestern Germany. We analyzed monitoring data of 545 sample plots (sized 500-1000 m²) from 12 strict forest reserves (SFRs). The SFRs had been without forestry intervention for up to 28 years.Both, number of dead objects and volume of dead wood (m³ ha⁻¹) increased significantly with ongoing time since abandonment from forestry interventions. The mean amount doubled from 9 to 18 m³ ha⁻¹ within 10 years. The proportion of standing dead wood was about 40% of the total dead wood pool ≥20 cm diameter.With mixed linear modeling we showed that dead wood increased by a mean net rate of about 1 m³ ha⁻¹ a⁻¹. Therefore, after three decades critical values for restoring the dead wood pool could be reached. We hypothesized that the rate of dead wood input is mainly determined by disturbance driven tree mortality such as oak decline, bark beetle infestations and storms.A comparison with primeval forests or reserves abandoned more than 100 years ago showed that the SFRs studied are at the beginning of a long process of dead wood accumulation.Based on our results, the abandonment of forest activities in harvestable pure and mixed beech stands is an effective strategy for restoring the dead wood pool.     

Forest fire effects in beech dominated mountain forest of Iran

Most of world's forests of different climates have a history of fire, but with different severities. Fire regimes for broadleaf deciduous forests have return intervals that vary from many decades (or less) to centuries (or more). Iran has a total of 1.2 million ha of temperate forest in the north, where fires burn about 300–400 ha annually. This study focused on the impact of fire on forest structure, tree species quality, and regeneration composition (specially beech) in the Chelir forest of northern Iran. The results showed that forest fires changed the structure and had different effects on tree species composition between burned and control areas. Thin barked species such as oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and coliseum maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled.) have been affected more than those with thick bark, like hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey). The density of oriental beech regeneration in the unburned area was greater than in the burned area, while the quantity of regeneration of hornbeam, coliseum maple and velvet maple (Acer velutinum Boiss) was higher in burned area. Forest fire had a greater effect on oriental beech quality, and changed regeneration composition in the burned area. Fire prevention activities should be considered as a silvicultural treatment for preserving these valuable forests.