Learning by doing Continuous Cover Forestry in Finland Jari Hynynen The Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla)
Contents Even-aged management CCF Definitions Motivation Legislation Research Practice
Definition of CCF Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen
Continuous cover forestry The most common types of management Uneven-aged forest management (UEAM) Single tree selection Group selection (small patches) Management of two-storey stands Overstorey with birch or pine with spruce understorey
Continuous cover forestry Focus in this presentation Uneven-aged forest management (UEAM) Single tree selection Group selection (small patches) Management of two-storey stands Overstorey with birch or pine with spruce understorey
The most common methods of uneven-aged forest management Single tree selection Group selection Drawing by Juha Varhi
Where to apply UEAM? Spruce-dominated stands in commercial forests Pine dominated peatland forests with poor productivity Forests with other management goals than wood production e.g. urban forests, recreation forests
Motivation: Why CCF? Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen
Motivation The share of forest sector in Finnish economy has decreased during the past 30 years gross domestic product: 8 % => 4 % value of exports: 40 % => 20 % Abundant forest resources The volume of growing stock is 2 300 mill. m 3 Total annual increment 104 mill. m 3, annual drain 70 mill. m 3 Appreciation of immaterial values of forests has increased Some forest owners don t want to apply clear felling in their forests Increasing demand to have more variation in forest management
Citizens viewpoints on forests What are the main issues Valkeapää et al. 2013
Main targets of forest owners
Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen Legislation: What has changed?
Revision of Forest Act Goals increase the freedom of choice of forest owners in managing their own forest property improve the profitability of forestry and operating conditions of wood-producing industry enhance the biodiversity of forests
Revised Forest Act The most important changes UEAM is allowed management method as alternative to even-aged management abolition of age and diameter limits in regeneration more diverse range of tree species is allowed to be grown less detailed regulation on the treatment of forests
Obligations and rights of forest owners who practice UEAM Notification procedure on management principle to be applied: UEAM or EAM If uneven-aged management, a stand is allowed to be cut to minimum density of southern Finland 10 / 9 m 2 /ha (fertile/less fertile site) middle Finland 9 / 8 m 2 /ha northern Finland 8 / 6 m 2 /ha No obligation to regenerate forest, if the size of opening (patch) is less than 0.3 ha
Photo: Metla/ Erkki Oksanen Research: What do we know about uneven-aged management
Regeneration and ingrowth Conclusions on ERIKA-trials (20 years) seedling emergence is adequate (>2000/ha/yr) > 90 % mortality within first few years with average growth rates it takes about 60 years for a spruce germinant to achieve 1.3 m in height (Eerikäinen et al. 2013) large variation in regeneration and early growth between stands and years, and within stands Photo: Metla/ Erkki Oksanen Stand density has to be low in order to promote the growth conditions of advanced growth
Growth and yield In uneven-aged spruce stands Stand density is mainained at low level It takes time for released trees to recover from selective cuttings Due to natural regeneration, spatial distribution of trees is uneven = > Stem wood yield (m 3 ha -1 ) is smaller in uneven-aged forest compared to even-aged forest
The impact of stocking level on volume growth in uneven-aged spruce stands (ERIKA trials) Mean annual volume growth (m 3 ha -1 ) Range of density variation in even-aged Spruce stand Growth loss 10 15 % Growth loss 30-40 % Stand basal area (m 2 ha -1 ) during 15-year observation period
Profitability Published articles from Finland emphasize good profitability of uneven-aged management with respect to even-aged management, but Results are based on growth models which are not consistent with observed dynamics of unevenaged spruce stands => overprediction of growth and yield UEAM is not likely to be more profitable than EAM A lot of uncertainty related to the assessment of profitability in UEAM
Biotic risks related to unevenaged management Increased risk of the occurence of root rot damages in spruce stands cutting operations with large forest machines cuttings during summer Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen
Ecology and biodiversity: UEAM vs. EAM Timo Saksa & Juha Siitonen No difference/poorer fires, burned wood Coarse Woody Debris large old conifers large old broadleaves Better management of specific valuable habitats preventing fragmentation of old forests (where feasible) more variable within-stand habitat provision Active maintainance of biodiversity is needed also in UEAM Photos: Metla/Erkki Oksanen
Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen CCF in Practice
How widely CCF is practiced after the revision of forest act Total areas of cutting for CCF 1.1.2014 30.4.2014 Single-tree selection 670 ha Group selection 336 ha Total area of all cuttings 1.1.2014 30.4.2014: 237 245 ha The share of CCF cuttings is 0.4 % of treated forest area
Conclusions Forest owner has freedom to choose the maangement method There is little research-based information on sustainability of wood production profitbility in the long run There is little practical experience on Timber sales and stumpage prices Logging in practice Extension services related to CCF are needed => CCF in Finland is learning by doing
THANK YOU! Photo: Metla/Erkki Oksanen