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Home → Publications → Forest Nursery Notes → 2009 Winter Forest Nursery Notes → 2009 Winter Forest Nursery Notes - New Nursery Literature → Converting Norway Spruce Stands with Beech-- A Review of Arguments and Techniques

Converting Norway Spruce Stands with Beech-- A Review of Arguments and Techniques

Ammer, C., Bickel, E., and Kolling, C. Austrian Journal of Forest Science 125(1):3-26. 2008.

After 25 years of introducing beech into pure Norway spruce forests some foresters, economists, but also forest scientists are concerned about the increasing proportion of beech. We therefore reviewed the existing literature on the ecological and economic consequences of an enrichment of Norway spruce stands by beech. From this review it can be concluded that, though generalisations are difficult, beech improves soil properties, biodiversity, and productivity of pure spruce forests in many cases. Moreover, recent financial considerations revealed new and tangible arguments for the replacement of pure stands of Norway spruce by mixtures of Norway spruce and beech. In addition, introducing beech or other broadleaved species into Norway spruce stands is strongly recommended because of the high vulnerability of the latter species against climate change. In the second section of the paper we refer to silvicultural strategies for the conversion of Norway spruce stands and discuss the relevant. techniques, planting and direct seeding. Factors which may affect the success of planting and direct seeding of beech are summarised.


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Author(s): C. Ammer, E. Bickel, C. Kolling

Section: Outplanting Performance