What is it about?

The study analyzed and showed results from 23 years of annual data collection of canopy attributes (light transmittance, leaf area index, litter production and its partitioning) intwo coppice forests aged about 70 under conversion to high forest under different silvicultural treatment: natural evolution (unthinned control) and active conversion through medium-high thinning from below. Results indicated that the silvicultural treatment affected the canopy structure and growth efficiency of beech, fastening the transition to more mature stand condition compared with the unthined control.

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Why is it important?

The proposed method employed an objective and ecological approach to assess impact of thinning practices on canopy structure and growth efficiency. The methodology allows comparability and replicability of the silvicultural approach.

Perspectives

Most of the beech forests in IT and EU are in a transition stage to high forest. The long-term required to achieve regeneration implies long-term data. The study provides a 23 years dataset which can be used to integrate studies e.g. on mast seeding, leaf area index.

Dr Francesco Chianucci
Forestry Research Centre, Italy

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Long-term response to thinning in a beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) coppice stand under conversion to high forest in Central Italy, Silva Fennica, January 2016, Finnish Society of Forest Science,
DOI: 10.14214/sf.1549.
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