Summary
Published in European Journal of Forest Research 141: 629–639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-022-01465-5
Clear-cutting is one of the most widespread forestry practices used in boreal forests. Clear-cutting of boreal forests in late successional stages could trigger reversion of successional trajectories back toward forests of earlier stages. Such successional setbacks could generate sustainability issues by prolonging the expected time to compositional recovery after clear-cutting. This could lead to overestimation of allowable cuts of economically important late-successional species if the occurrence of successional setbacks remains unassessed. Our objective was to assess whether clear-cutting without additional regeneration treatments has triggered successional setbacks. We studied post-clearcut successional trajectories by using forest inventory data in post-clearcut stands, in light of conceptual successional dynamics models. These data covered the actively managed boreal forest region of Quebec, eastern Canada, which is classified into two ecological regions, themselves subdivided into eastern (cool–wet) and western (warm–dry) sub regions. Clear-cutting triggered successional setbacks in half of these regions. Such setbacks could prolong, by at least an additional century, the expected time to compositional recovery after clear-cutting. To prevent the overestimation of allowable cuts of economically important late-successional species, foresters could monitor post-clear-cut successional trajectories to assess whether setbacks were triggered. Post-clear-cut successional setbacks occurred in the two western ecological regions where climatic conditions are warmer and drier than in their eastern counterpart where no setbacks occurred. Hence, sustainability issues brought on by successional setbacks may be exacerbated by climate change. Finally, furthering our understanding of the transformation of successional dynamics by anthropogenic disturbances will be essential to insure sustainable forestry practices.
Sector(s):
Forests
Categorie(s):
Scientific Article
Theme(s):
Forest Ecology, Forestry Research, Forests
Departmental author(s):
Author(s)
BARRETTE, Martin, Yan BOUCHER, Daniel DUMAIS and Isabelle AUGER
Year of publication :
2022
Format :
How to get the publication :
Keywords :
successional dynamics, forest landscapes, allowable cuts, sustainable forestry, climate change, dynamiques successionnelles, paysages forestiers, possibilité forestière, foresterie durable, changements climatiques, article scientifique de la recherche forestière, forestry research scientific article, écologie forestière, sylviculture et rendement des forêts naturelles - peuplements de feuillus, forest ecology, silviculture and yield of natural forests - hardwood stands
