Organizer: Gero Becker (Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany)
Sustainable coppice forest management in the Balkans. Kampen, P. (Connecting Natural Value & People Foundation (CNVP), Macedonia; peter.kampen@cnvp-eu.org), Kola, H. (Connecting Natural Value & People Foundation (CNVP), Albania;
haki.kola@cnvp-eu.org).
Through participatory planning, sample plots established in private and public coppice forest and comparisons in increment and production, we demonstrate the wide social ecological impact of the inconsistency of silvicultural regime with socio economic conditions. The increase of non-renewable raw materials for heating in the last century lost the importance of coppicing in Europe, replacing it by converting objectives. This converting idea was imported as best practice from Balkan forest services, and soon turned on an objective for the most of Balkan coppice forest. The objective of converting, as part of forest policies, was followed by legal restrictions against coppicing regime, despite the fact that the heating source in most of the Balkan countries remains the fi rewood as of today. It leads to big gap between demands –offer for fi rewood, followed by illegal sporadic selective
cutting and high degradations in public forest. The coppicing regime survived in some private forest as for comparisons. Innova-tive forest management, decentralization clear ownership, use rights and supporInnova-tive legislation to achieve increased contribution of coppice in Balkans rural livelihood through increased biomass production and improved diversity are the main recommendations of the study realized by CNVP supported by Sida and World Bank projects.
Valuable but threatened: how the abandonment of traditional forest management systems infl uences the occurrence of a rare tree species. Pyttel, P. (University of Freiburg, Germany; patrick.pyttel@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de), Weber, T. (Lycée Technique Agricole, Luxembourg; tunweber@hotmail.com), Kunz, J., Bauhus, J. (University of Freiburg, Germany;
joerg.kunz@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de; juergen.bauhus@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de).
Sorbus domestica is one of the rarest tree species in Central Europe. Although its timber is of high value, there is little informa-tion on its growth. Many individuals are growing in aged oak coppice forests. Since coppicing is no longer practiced, it is unclear whether the S. domestica population can persist in a continuous cover forest system or if coppicing is needed for species preservation. The objectives of this study are to analyse stand development and growth related competition processes between S. domestica and other tree species (mainly Quercus petraea) in order to understand future forest succession processes within the extended aged coppice areas of western Germany. To reconstruct regeneration processes and growth, tree ring analysis was carried out at 42 S. domestica trees and their two nearest neighbours. Dendrochronological data support the hypothesis that coppicing promotes the establishment of S. domestica. Growth patterns suggest that S. domestica is an extremely light demanding species that is unable to survive long periods of intensive competition. We conclude that abandonment of coppicing in these forests does threaten the status of S. domestica. In order to preserve species occurrence, the resumption of coppicing should be taken into consideration wherever advisable.
Harvesting traditional coppice stands in the northwestern Italian mountains. Spinelli, R. (National Research Council of Italy (IVALSA), Italy; spinelli@ivalsa.cnr.it), Ebone, A., Gianella, M. (Institute for Wood Plants and the Environment (IPLA), Italy;
ebone@ipla.org; gianella@ipla.org).
Traditional coppice stands cover millions of hectares throughout Europe and offer large amounts of biomass. The study analyzed 10 commercial coppice harvesting operations in northwestern Italy, where modern machines were deployed. Removals, prices, work, revenues and costs were carefully determined. Firewood was the main product, representing between 70% and 100% of the total product mass and value. Traditional coppice stands often yield over 200 m3 of energy biomass per hectare, at the time of cut. Cable yarding operations were better organized than ground-based operations, which explained why they incurred the same harvesting cost, despite the more challenging site conditions under which they were deployed. Mean harvesting cost was 45€ m–3, of which about 10% was needed for felling, 70% for extraction and processing, and the remaining 20% for loading and transpor-tation. All operations accrued some profi t, which varied between 13 and 43€ m–3 or between 1 600 and 8 600€ ha–1, depending on operational effi ciency, value recovery and stand yield.
Study the potential of Lebanon oak (Quercus libani Oliv.) for coppice regeneration in northern Zagros forests of Iran.
Valipour, A. (University of Kurdistan, Iran; ahmadvalipour@gmail.com), Namiranian, M. (University of Tehran, Iran;
namiranianm@yahoo.ca), Ghazanfari, H. (University of Kurdistan, Iran; Hedayat@uok.ac.ir), Lexer, M. (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria; mj.lexer@boku.ac.at).
Regeneration failure due to livestock grazing is a major problem in the northern Zagros oak forests of Iran. Coppice regeneration provides a fast-growing alternative to seedling regeneration. Knowledge of sprouting ability is an essential prerequisite for the use of coppice regeneration in the context of adapted silvicultural strategies. We investigated the sprouting ability of Lebanon oak in Northern Zagros. In total 45 Lebanon oak trees from three diameter classes (25–35, 35–45 and 45–60 cm) were cut. To monitor the sprouting behavior during the fi rst year after cutting the stumps were measured in June and September. The number of sprouts was largest for the intermediate DBH class with 101 and 81 sprouts per stump in June and September respectively. Whereas there was no signifi cant difference in mean sprout height per stump between the dbh categories, the maximum sprout height per stump was signifi cantly larger for the intermediate DBH category. A higher sprout density per stool in June leads to a stronger decrease in sprout density until September. In Zagros forests coppice regeneration may contribute to sustain fodder and fuelwood produc-tion for the upcoming decades. Studies like the present one can contribute to fi nd management strategies for Zagros forests which are able to balance the protection goals and the needs of local stakeholders who depend heavily on the sustainable use of forest resources.
Posters
Ecological complexity, stand basal area and rooting intensity respond differently under edaphic drought in ecotones at abandoned coppice forests. Chakraborty, T., Saha, S., Reif, A. (University of Freiburg, Germany; tamalika.chakraborty@
waldbau.uni-freiburg.de; somidh.saha@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de; albert.reif@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de).
We hypothesized that interactions between ecological complexity and stand basal area (SBA) would vary under drought stress in ecotones. We also hypothesized that above ground interactions between ecological complexity, canopy openness and edaphic drought would infl uence belowground rooting intensity (RI). Five abandoned coppice stands in southern Germany and northern Switzerland were selected in ecotones of European beech and Downy oak forests. We calculated tree size diversity index to measure structural complexity. Shannon diversity index was used to quantify compositional complexity of vascular plants.
Edaphic drought was quantifi ed as available soil water storage capacity (ASWSC). Inventory plots were installed from beech to oak dominated area for representing change in plant composition, slope and ASWSC. ASWSC signifi cantly increased plant compositional and structural complexity, however, did not reduce SBA. Structural complexity signifi cantly increased SBA, however, compositional complexity and canopy openness didn’t. In belowground, ASWSC and compositional complexity signifi cantly increases RI. We conclude that structural complexity plays crucial role to maintain above ground stand productivity,
however, compositional complexity benefi ts belowground root intensity under gradient of edaphic drought in oak-beech coppice forests. These results will contribute to better explain the resilience of forests under drought, and changes in forest types to their drought limit.
Potential production of short rotation coppice willow in Denmark. Larsen, S. (University of Copenhagen, Denmark;
slar@life.ku.dk).
To meet climate and energy policy targets, there is a growing demand for biomass for energy in Denmark and Europe. Short rotation forestry with coppice willow can fulfi ll goals of high biomass production and at the same time provide ecosystem services such as soil carbon sequestration, biodiversity etc. It is, however, diffi cult to predict the yield of this production because of the lack of experimental data. This study examines the production potential of short rotation coppice (SRC) willow in Denmark by use of the mechanistic crop model BIOCRO. Based on an extensive input dataset on Danish climate, soil and land use, and validated against real production data modeled yield of SRC willow has been found for every fi eld plot in Denmark.
This is the fi rst time it has been done for Denmark and in such high resolution. The study shows that it is possible to grow SRC willow in Denmark with a yield of 8 to 15 Mg DM/ha, but with large geographic differences due to differences in climate and soil. As a result of this study it is now easier to estimate the production in Denmark and take decisions regarding future placement of bioenergy plantations.
Eucalypt coppice management for rurally-based, small-scale timber growers in South Africa. Little, K. (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa; keith.little@nmmu.ac.za).
Eucalypt coppice management regimes that focus exclusively on maximising volume production are practiced within South Africa. To supplement timber requirements by these commercial companies, additional timber supplies have been obtained from rurally-based, small-scale timber growers. Although the average size of each of their planted areas is small (1.5 ha), collectively the large number of growers provides an important source of timber to the commercial companies. Besides supplying timber, the coppice stems are also used by these rural timber growers for fencing (droppers and poles), building (laths or poles), or as a source of fi rewood. Thus, the management of these stands is varied, with no consensus amongst the different growers as to the best management practices for any specifi c product. It is therefore critical to determine the most effective manner in which coppice regrowth can be managed for multiple-use (fuel wood, droppers, building material, wood for pulp, etc.) rather than focusing on maximizing volume production for the commercial companies alone. In 2005, a trial was initiated on a recently felled Eucalyptus grandis x E. camaldulensis stand. Twelve different multiple-use management scenarios were tested against a commer-cial control over the subsequent six years. The most appropriate coppice systems are highlighted that include product-specifi c, as well as multiple-product options.
Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) potential for coppicing: a case study. Nicolescu, V., Sandi, M., Șimon, D., Sinca, I.
(Transylvania University of Brasov, Romania; nvnicolescu@unitbv.ro; sandymely@freemail.hu; simon.diana91@gmail.com;
vnnicolescu@yahoo.com).
The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the coppicing potential of sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) as well as the effects of reducing the stocking (number of shoots/stump) on diameter and height increment of individual shoots. For these purposes, a young coppice established in 2005 by low cutting sycamore maple trees planted as pure rows in 2003 has been measured repeatedly since 2011. The reduction of number of shoots/stump (stocking after respacing: one shoot/stump, two shoots/
stump, and control) was performed in the same year. The analysis of fi eld data was carried out from both quantitative and statistical perspectives. The study revealed the high coppicing potential and fast growth of the species at young ages, as well as the increase effect of reducing stocking on both diameter and height increment. However, the diameter increment was more responsive to stocking reduction than the height increment; consequently the stability index (SI = (h/d) *100) was positively infl uenced (reduced) by the heavier reduction of number of shoots/stump. Taking into account the high coppicing potential and early fast growth, the future use of sycamore maple in short rotation coppices is also outlined in the paper.
The effect of harvesting on stump mortality and re-sprouting in aged oak coppice forests. Pyttel, P., Fischer, U., Bauhus, J. (University of Freiburg, Germany; patrick.pyttel@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de; u_fi scher@yahoo.de;
juergen.bauhus@waldbau.uni-freiburg.de).
In Central Europe, traditional management of oak coppice forest was abandoned at the beginning of the last century, leaving large tracts of forest developing into aged coppice stands. Recently renewed interest in coppicing has developed in many European countries because of the increasing importance of fuel wood as a substitute for fossil fuels and the preservation of coppice forests as a historical landscape element and habitat with high nature conservation value. However, there are uncertainties about the re-sprouting ability of large and old oak stumps. In this study we determined the re-sprouting ability of sessile oak stumps 80 to 100 years after the last coppice cut. Stump mortality and re-sprouting intensity were analyzed in relation to three different harvesting methods, browsing intensity, vitality of parent trees and stump parameters. On average 16% of all sessile oak stools died within two vegetation periods after coppicing. However, numerous new stump sprouts were recorded. Growth of the new sprouts was mainly infl uenced by browsing. Our results indicate that the re-sprouting ability of 80–100 year old oak trees originating from former coppice management is still high and little infl uenced by harvesting methods. However, browsing must be controlled, as with any other form of forest regeneration, if coppicing is to be applied successfully.
Hybrid aspen coppice forest for energy in hemiboreal Estonia. Tullus, H., Lutter, R., Kraav, J., Tullus, T. (Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia; hardi.tullus@emu.ee; reimo.lutter@emu.ee; jaan.kraav@emu.ee; tea.tullus@emu.ee), Tullus, A.
(University of Tartu, Estonia; arvo.tullus@ut.ee).
One effective method to produce woody biomass is to establish forest plantations with fast-growing and vegetatively regenerating tree species. Due to high initial density and the existing root system from previous generation, non-fertilised hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) sucker stand may show very high biomass productivity. In Estonia the establishment
of hybrid aspen plantations started just 15 years ago and this is the fi rst study of the second generation here. As part of the study above-ground biomass production in three-year-old non-fertilised vegetative hybrid aspen stand growing on Mollic Planosol was estimated based on destructive sampling of model trees. Several foliar and soil characteristics were studied in order to explain the within-stand variability in number and growth rate of the shoots. On average 111 000±16 000 aspen shoots ha-1 had emerged after the fi rst growing season. Average woody biomass of vegetative hybrid aspen stand after the third growing season was 16.6±2.4 t DM/ha reaching 30.6 t DM/ha in the best part of the stand. Biomass harvest in winter (without leaves) would mean one third smaller removal of nutrients. In favourable growing conditions hybrid aspen could be an alternative option to willows for producing energy wood.