Relation between forest stand diversity and anticipated log quality in managed Central European forests

摘要

This study examined the influence of tree species and structural diversity on the production of high-quality logs. The data were from the regional forest inventory of the University Forest Enterprise, Czech Republic, performed from 2009 to 2011 on 1188 sample plots. For every sample plot, we quantified 38 diversity indicators. The plots were divided into four age groups (young, middle-aged, old and uneven-aged stands). The anticipated proportion of high-quality logs was determined using local assortment tables. For each age group, the impact of species and structural diversity indicators on the volumetric proportion of high-quality logs was assessed using backwards multiple regression. The relationship between diversity measures and log quality changed with stand age. In old stands, horizontal structure had a more profound effect on the proportion of high-quality logs. In young stands, species diversity and vertical structure were more influential. In middle-aged stands, the impact of stand diversity on log quality was most complex. In uneven-aged stands, vertical structure was the diversity component most affecting the proportion of high-quality logs. Overall, the proportion of best quality logs increased with the increasing stand diversity in all age classes, suggesting that timber production and stand diversity are not contradictory management goals.