West coast, temperate, old-growth forests

2003 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy MacKinnon
Keyword(s):  
West Coast ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
History Of ◽  
Wet Climate ◽  
Coastal British Columbia

Canada's west coast, temperate, old-growth forests include its largest, most commercially valuable, fastest-growing, oldest, and certainly most fought-over forests. They can be divided into three main types: coastal rainforest, coastal subalpine forest, and "rain-shadow" forest. Although there is great variation within each of these broad types, coastal rainforests and subalpine forests share a wet climate and are relatively unimpacted by fire as a stand-replacing disturbance. This allows development of multi-aged, multi-canopy, old-growth forests with large volumes of living and dead wood. These forests are structurally and biologically complex. Coastal rain-shadow forests, on the other hand, have a distinctively drier climate (for the coast), and a history of frequent, low-intensity fires. Although well over half of Canada's original west coast, temperate, old-growth forests remain as old growth, there is great variation ecologically and geographically. In general, the percentage of old-growth forest remaining increases with increasing latitude and elevation. Key words: old growth, old-growth forest, coastal British Columbia, temperate rainforest, protected areas, stand structure

scholarly journals Die Suche nach altem Wald in der Schweiz

2015 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Bütler ◽  
Markus Bolliger ◽  
Brigitte Commarmot
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
National Forest Inventory ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Forest Patches ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Veteran Trees ◽  
Old Growth Forests

The search for old-growth forests in Switzerland Old-growth forests and stands have multiple values, such as biological, scientific, socioeconomic, aesthetic, spiritual and cultural ones, but they are very rare in central Europe. Currently, an overview about the existence and size of old-growth forest patches in Switzerland is missing. We propose a definition for old-growth forests worth preserving based on ten criteria: 1) presence of veteran trees, 2) significant biomass, 3) heterogeneous stand structure including senescent and decaying stages, 4) presence of natural processes and disturbances, 5) high dead wood volume (at least 30 m3/ha) and a large diversity of dimensions and decay stages of dead wood pieces, 6) autochthonous tree species, 7) diverse and natural species assemblages, 8) only extensive or no harvesting for the last 50 years, 9) long continuity of forest cover, 10) minimal area of 30 ha for old-growth forests and 1 ha for old-growth stands. When searching for old-growth forests and stands worth preserving, quantitative criteria from the National Forest Inventory and other sources should also be used. We call on all forest specialists to identify old-growth patches, to inform the population and decision makers about their high value, and to protect them in an adequate manner as a unique natural heritage.

Old-growth forest reserves in Slovenia: the past, present, and future

2012 ◽  
Vol 163 (6) ◽  
pp. 240-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Nagel ◽  
Jurij Diaci ◽  
Dusan Rozenbergar ◽  
Tihomir Rugani ◽  
Dejan Firm
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Forest Reserves ◽  
The Past ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Forest Remnants ◽  
Basic Characteristics

Old-growth forest reserves in Slovenia: the past, present, and future Slovenia has a small number of old-growth forest remnants, as well as many forest reserves approaching old-growth conditions. In this paper, we describe some of the basic characteristics of these old-growth remnants and the history of their protection in Slovenia. We then trace the long-term development of research in these old-growth remnants, with a focus on methodological changes. We also review some of the recent findings from old-growth research in Slovenia and discuss future research needs. The conceptual understanding of how these forests work has slowly evolved, from thinking of them in terms of stable systems to more dynamic and unpredictable ones due to the influence of natural disturbances and indirect human influences. In accordance with this thinking, the methods used to study old-growth forests have changed from descriptions of stand structure to studies that address natural processes and ecosystem functions.

Tekstura drzewostanów naturalnych w polskich parkach narodowych na tle teorii dynamiki lasu

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leszek Bartkowicz ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Site Conditions ◽  
Gap Dynamics ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Mosaic Pattern ◽  
Spruce Forests ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Patch Mosaic

The aim of the study was to compare a patch-mosaic pattern in the old-growth forest stands developed in various climate and soil conditions occurring in different regions of Poland. Based on the assumption, that the patch-mosaic pattern in the forest reflect the dynamic processes taking place in it, and that each type of forest ecosystem is characterized by a specific regime of natural disturbances, the following hypotheses were formulated: (i) the patches with a complex structure in stands composed of latesuccessional, shade-tolerant tree species are more common than those composed of early-successional, light-demanding ones, (ii) the patch-mosaic pattern is more heterogeneous in optimal forest site conditions than in extreme ones, (iii) in similar site conditions differentiation of the stand structure in distinguished patches is determined by the successional status of the tree species forming a given patch, (iv) the successional trends leading to changes of species composition foster diversification of the patch structure, (v) differentiation of the stand structure is negatively related to their local basal area, especially in patches with a high level of its accumulation. Among the best-preserved old-growth forest remaining under strict protection in the Polish national parks, nineteen research plots of around 10 ha each were selected. In each plot, a grid (50 × 50 m) of circular sample subplots (with radius 12,62 m) was established. In the sample subplots, species and diameter at breast height of living trees (dbh ≥ 7 cm) were determined. Subsequently, for each sample subplot, several numerical indices were calculated: local basal area (G), dbh structure differentiation index (STR), climax index (CL) and successional index (MS). Statistical tests of Kruskal- Wallis, Levene and Generalized Additive Models (GAM) were used to verify the hypotheses. All examined forests were characterized by a large diversity of stand structure. A particularly high frequency of highly differentiated patches (STR > 0,6) was recorded in the alder swamp forest. The patch mosaic in the examined plots was different – apart from the stands with a strongly pronounced mosaic character (especially subalpine spruce forests), there were also stands with high spatial homogeneity (mainly fir forests). The stand structure in the distinguished patches was generally poorly related to the other studied features. Consequently, all hypotheses were rejected. These results indicate a very complex, mixed pattern of forest natural dynamics regardless of site conditions. In beech forests and lowland multi-species deciduous forests, small-scale disturbances of the gap dynamics type dominate, which are overlapped with less frequent medium-scale disturbances. In more difficult site conditions, large-scale catastrophic disturbances, which occasionally appear in communities formed under the influence of gap dynamics (mainly spruce forests) or cohort dynamics (mainly pine forests), gain importance.

The relationship of buried, germinating seeds to vegetation in an old-growth Colorado subalpine forest

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (13) ◽  
pp. 1505-1509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Whipple
Keyword(s):  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Forest Species ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Rapid Loss ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Germinating Seeds ◽  
The Relationship

Species of buried, germinating seeds and species occurring in the vegetation are compared for two Colorado subalpine forest stands, one dry and one mesic, both over 325 years old. The total numbers of seeds found were small and the correspondence with species in the vegetation was poor. This is consistent with reports from other old-growth forests and may be accounted for by a combination of low seed input and rapid loss of viable seeds from the soil reservoir for old-growth forest species.

scholarly journals Compared to Wildfire, Management Practices Reduced Old-Growth Forest Diversity and Functionality in Primary Boreal Landscapes of Eastern Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Pierre Grondin ◽  
Marie-Claude Lambert ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Industrial Scale ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Ecosystem Based Management ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Boreal Landscapes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Primary Forests

Large primary forest residuals can still be found in boreal landscapes. Their areas are however shrinking rapidly due to anthropogenic activities, in particular industrial-scale forestry. The impacts of logging activities on primary boreal forests may also strongly differ from those of wildfires, the dominant stand-replacing natural disturbance in these forests. Since industrial-scale forestry is driven by economic motives, there is a risk that stands of higher economic value will be primarily harvested, thus threatening habitats, and functions related to these forests. Hence, the objective of this study was to identify the main attributes differentiating burned and logged stands prior to disturbance in boreal forests. The study territory lies in the coniferous and closed-canopy boreal forest in Québec, Canada, where industrial-scale logging and wildfire are the two main stand-replacing disturbances. Based on Québec government inventories of primary forests, we identified 427 transects containing about 5.5 circular field plots/transect that were burned or logged shortly after being surveyed, between 1985 and 2016. Comparative analysis of the main structural and environmental attributes of these transects highlighted the strong divergence in the impact of fire and harvesting on primary boreal forests. Overall, logging activities mainly harvested forests with the highest economic value, while most burned stands were low to moderately productive or recently disturbed. These results raise concerns about the resistance and resilience of remnant primary forests within managed areas, particularly in a context of disturbance amplification due to climate change. Moreover, the majority of the stands studied were old-growth forests, characterized by a high ecological value but also highly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances. A loss in the diversity and functionality of primary forests, and particularly the old-growth forests, therefore adds to the current issues related to these ecosystems. Since 2013, the study area is under ecosystem-based management, which implies that there have been marked changes in forestry practices. Complementary research will be necessary to assess the capacity of ecosystem-based management to address the challenges identified in our study.

scholarly journals Boreal old-growth forest structural diversity challenges aerial photographic survey accuracy

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxence Martin ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton ◽  
Hubert Morin
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Succession ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Aerial Surveys ◽  
Old Growth Forests

The erosion of old-growth forests in boreal managed landscapes is a major issue currently faced by forest managers; however, resolving this problem requires accurate surveys. The intention of our study was to determine if historic operational aerial forest surveys accurately identified boreal old-growth forests in Quebec, Canada. We first compared stand successional stages (even-aged vs. old-growth) in two aerial surveys performed in 1968 (preindustrial aerial survey) and 2007 (modern aerial survey) on the same 2200 km2 territory. Second, we evaluated the accuracy of the modern aerial survey by comparing its results with those of 74 field plots sampled in the study territory between 2014 and 2016. The two aerial surveys differed significantly; 80.8% of the undisturbed stands that were identified as “old-growth” in the preindustrial survey were classified as “even-aged” in the modern survey, and 60% of the stands identified as “old-growth” by field sampling were also erroneously identified as “even-aged” by the modern aerial survey. The scarcity of obvious old-growth attributes in boreal old-growth forests, as well as poorly adapted modern aerial survey criteria (i.e., criteria requiring high vertical stratification and significant changes in tree species composition along forest succession), were the main factors explaining these errors. It is therefore likely that most of Quebec’s boreal old-growth forests are currently not recognized as such in forest inventories, challenging the efficacy of sustainable forest management policies.

scholarly journals STAND STRUCTURE OF A CALABRIAN PINE OLD-GROWTH FOREST: INDICATIONS FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT AND LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION

2010 ◽  
pp. 529-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orazio Ciancio ◽  
Francesco Iovino ◽  
Giuliano Menguzzato ◽  
Antonino Nicolaci ◽  
Antonella Veltri
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Landscape Conservation ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Calabrian Pine

scholarly journals Bryophyte Conservation in Managed Boreal Landscapes: Fourteen-Year Impacts of Partial Cuts on Epixylic Bryophytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Opoku-Nyame ◽  
Alain Leduc ◽  
Nicole J. Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Old Growth Forests ◽  
Over Time

Clear cut harvest simplifies and eliminates old growth forest structure, negatively impacting biodiversity. Partial cut harvest has been hypothesized (1) to have less impact on biodiversity than clear cut harvest, and (2) to encourage old growth forest structures. Long-term studies are required to test this hypothesis as most studies are conducted soon after harvest. Using epixylic bryophytes as indicators, this study addresses this knowledge gap. Fourteen years after harvest, we examined changes in epixylic bryophyte community composition richness and traits, and their microhabitats (coarse woody debris characteristics and microclimate) along an unharvested, partial cuts and clear cuts harvest treatment in 30 permanent plots established in the boreal black spruce (Picea mariana) forests of northwestern Quebec, Canada. Our results were compared to those of an initial post-harvest study (year 5) and to a chronosequence of old growth forests to examine species changes over time and the similarity of bryophyte communities in partial cut and old growth forests. Coarse woody debris (CWD) volume by decay class varied among harvest treatments with partial cuts and clear cuts recording lower volumes of early decay CWD. The epixylic community was richer in partial cuts than in mature unharvested forests and clear cuts. In addition, species richness and overall abundance doubled in partial and clear cuts between years 5 and 14. Species composition also differed among treatments between years 5 and 14. Furthermore, conditions in partial cut stands supported small, drought sensitive, and old growth confined species that are threatened by conditions in clear cut stands. Lastly, over time, species composition in partial cuts became more similar to old growth forests. Partial cuts reduced harvest impacts by continuing to provide favorable microhabitat conditions that support epixylic bryophytes. Also, partial cut harvest has the potential to encourage old growth species assemblages, which has been a major concern for biodiversity conservation in managed forest landscapes. Our findings support the promotion of partial cut harvest as an effective strategy to achieve species and habitat conservation goals.

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