The silviculture of conifers in Great Britain

The original paper by H.M. Steven, with this title, describedthe silvicultural characteristics of the main coniferous speciesthen available in British forestry. The use of these introducedconifers was justified by the limited site tolerances of theone native species, Scots pine, and the need to expand forestcover on to sites with infertile soils in harsh climatic conditions. This paper reviews the developments in silvicultural techniquesand understanding that have enabled the rapid expansion of productiveforestry in the last seventy years:

• The problems associated with afforestation, requiring ameliorationof soil physical and chemical conditions, have been resolvedand the climatic limits to the use of individual species aremore clearly defined.
• Increased knowledge of the physiologicalresponses of individualspecies to environmental factors hasinfluenced silviculturalpractice from nursery production tothe regeneration of maturestands.
• Analysis of genetic variationwithin introduced conifer specieshas refined their use andis leading to improvements in theirproductivity and timberquality.
• The application of ecological principles, based onthe ecosystemconcept, has led to an understanding of foreststand dynamicsthat should ensure production from exotic specieson a sustainablebasis.

Future requirements in the silviculture of conifers includethe transferof the results of computer simulation modellinginto practice, the developmentof silvicultural systems appropriateto British conditions and greater emphasis on the quality ofproduction.