Ecological restoration of boreal forest in Fennoscandia

Abstract

Mixed-severity disturbances have historically shaped boreal forests, creating a dynamic mosaic landscape. In Fennoscandia, however, intensive even-aged forest management has simplified the forest landscape, threatening biodiversity. To safeguard this biodiversity, we therefore need to restore structural complexity in hitherto managed forests. Knowledge generated from relevant case studies on natural disturbance emulation–based ecological restoration suggests that prescribed burning positively affects many early-successional organisms. Gap cutting benefits some insects and wood fungi but has a limited effect on birds, bryophytes, and vascular plants. Restoration of deciduous forests appears to benefit light- and deciduous tree–associated insect species and some forest birds.

Published in

Advances in Global Change Research
2023, number: 74, pages: 467-489
Title: Boreal Forests in the Face of Climate Change : Sustainable Management
Publisher: Springer

SLU Authors

• Hjältén, Joakim

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sjögren, Jörgen

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network
SLU Forest Damage Center

Global goals (SDG)

SDG15 Life on land

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15988-6_18
• ISBN: 978-3-031-15987-9
• eISBN: 978-3-031-15988-6

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/127238