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Research article2004Peer reviewed

Selective felling as a potential tool for maintaining biodiversity in managed forests

Atlegrim O, Sjojberg K

Abstract

In Sweden one forestry method, the clear-cutting method, has been used all over the country despite differences in climate, topography etc. At present there is a growing interest in using alternative methods such as selective felling, which to a larger extent mimic natural disturbances. In this study we compare virgin forests with stands which have been cut with old selective felling (dimension felling), new selective felling (single tree selection felling), and clear-cutting with respect to frequency of characters important to biodiversity (mainly dead wood). The frequency of different types of dead wood decreases with increasing intensity of the cutting method in the following order: old selective felling, new selective felling, and clear-cutting. New selective felling had higher amounts and quality of dead wood compared to clear-cutting. New selective felling also showed less differences compared to virgin forests than clear-cutting. Dead wood in new selective felling compared to clear-cutting may offer substrate for different types of faunas because of the environment surrounding the dead wood. Even if the new selective felling method seems to provide higher amounts of dead wood compared to the clear-cutting method, further studies of organisms utilising the dead wood are needed. New selective felling does not seem to solve the problem of decreasing availability of dead wood in managed forests and there is still a need to preserve unmanaged forest patches in a landscape perspective in order to offer habitats with a high amount of dead wood

Published in

Biodiversity and Conservation
2004, Volume: 13, number: 6, pages: 1123-1133
Publisher: KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBL

      SLU Authors

    • Sjöberg, Kjell

      • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      • Alinvi, Ola

        • Department of Animal Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

      UKÄ Subject classification

      Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

      Publication identifier

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOC.0000018148.84640.fd

      Permanent link to this page (URI)

      https://res.slu.se/id/publ/5495