Structural Complexity and Ecosystem Functions in a Natural Mixed Forest under a Single-Tree Selection Silviculture

Toshiya Yoshida, Sayoko Naito, Misato Nagumo, Natsumi Hyodo, Taiki Inoue, Hiromitsu Umegane, Haruka Yamazaki, Hisashi Miya and Futoshi Nakamura
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Toshiya Yoshida: Uryu Experimental Forest, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Prefecture 060-0808, Japan
Sayoko Naito: Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan
Misato Nagumo: Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 096-0071, Japan
Natsumi Hyodo: Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 096-0071, Japan
Taiki Inoue: Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 096-0071, Japan
Hiromitsu Umegane: Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 096-0071, Japan
Haruka Yamazaki: Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 096-0071, Japan
Hisashi Miya: Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan
Futoshi Nakamura: Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-8589, Japan

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The objective of forest management has become broader, and it is essential to harmonize timber production with conservation of the forest ecosystem. Selection cutting is recognized as a major alternative of clear-cutting, because it can maintain the complexity and heterogeneity of a natural forest; however, its long-term evaluations are limited. This study compared various attributes of stand structures, which are indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem carbon stock between managed and unmanaged blocks (12.6 ha area in total) in a natural mixed forest in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. We found that 30 years’ implementation of single-tree selection did not affect the volume, size structure, species diversity nor spatial distribution of overstory trees in the managed stands. Also, the total carbon stock in the managed stands was almost equal to that of the unmanaged stands. In contrast, several structural attributes and indicator elements that are significant for biodiversity (such as large-diameter live trees, dead trees, cavities, epiphytic bryophytes, and some avian guilds) showed marked decrease in the managed stands. We conclude that it is required to leave these structures and elements to some extent for deriving the merit of the management as an alternative silvicultural regime in the region.

Keywords: conifer-broadleaved mixed forest; uneven-aged management; single-tree selection system; sustainable yield of timber; conservation of biodiversity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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