Regeneration Forestry Flashcards
How does Regeneration occur?
It is when young trees form from the seed fall from nearby parent trees
What is the most common type of forest felling?
Clear felling, in 1999 it was estimated 90+ % were clear felled
What are some benefits of other methods of felling?
- Less destructive; often clear fells give forestry a bad image
- Often provide a relatively consistent canopy
- Provide a supporting ecosystem/habitat for species for longer
- Recreation/landscape purposes (e.g. walks)
State some examples of other alternatives to clear felling?
ATC (Alternatives to clear-felling)Scotland 2000
CCF (Continuous Cover Forestry) UK forest standard 1998
LISS (Lower impact silvicultural systems) UKWAS 1999
However, CCF is considered the same as ATC today
Natural Regeneration is possible where…?
- There is an appropriate seed source
- A good seedbed is present/exposed (low heather/bracken areas have better seed bed)
- weed competition is not too vigorous
- Tree saplings not excessively browsed (e.g. deer)
- There is sufficient light for the seedings.
What manmade methods are used to help improve regeneration?
Scarification in open sections of forest, where the ground is exposed and heather/bracken removed. Allows seed to reach the soil.
Controlled ground burning of vegetation beneath the canopy.
Fencing- prevents deer and other animals from browsing as much, allowing trees to develop.
Give examples of some light-demanding Tree species?
Oak
Birch
Pine
Larch
Give some examples of Moderately shade-tolerant tree species?
Sitka Spruce
Norway Spruce
Douglas Fir
Give some examples of shade-tolerant tree species?
Beech
sycamore
silver fir
western hemlock
What is a group shelterwood system?
it is when small gaps are made in the stand, and the adjacent trees shelter the regenerating trees in the gap. 20-40% removed in the first cut The regeneration spreads outwards as the gaps enlarge but can be cut after that another 2 times usually. Creates an uneven aged forest.
What is advanced regeneration?
This is when saplings form under the canopy before any thinning commences.
What is a uniform shelter woodland?
This is when a Stand is thinned evenly, exposing the floor to light. Germination of saplings take place to an extent until light becomes an issue, then there is a final cut of the full grown stand, and you are left with a uniform stand of young trees.
What is strip shelter woodland?
This is when a strip is cut, usually 2x the size of a tree, to allow seeds to spread from the adjacent parent trees. These strips are repeated throughout the forest to stagger the growth. It can be used to help protect trees from windthrow if the strips are in ascending order of age (i.e youngest closest to wind direction, and oldest furthest, so to act as protection).
What is selectioon forestry?
This is when you have a mixed woodland, and you cut away some of the fully grown stand, to allow the existing mix of regenerative trees to recieve sunlight and grow. This can have several cuts, to make space for growing trees.
What is the common mistake done in group selection systems?
Sometimes you do not thin the woodland enough to allow more light dependent species to come through, and instead the more shade-tolerant sitkas grow instead (which may not be what you want to happen)
