Description :
‘Tree – tree’ interactions are important structuring mechanisms for forest community dynamics. Forest management takes advantage of competition effects on tree growth by removing or retaining trees to achieve management goals. Both competition and silviculture have thus a strong effect on density and distribution of Tree related Microhabitats (TreMs) which are key features for forest taxa at the stand scale (e.g. Bouget et al. 2013, 2014). In particular, spatially explicit data to understand patterns and mechanisms of TreM formation in forest stands are rare. To train and eventually improve decision making capacities related to the integration of biodiversity aspects into forest management 39 usually 1 ha (100 m x 100m) permanent plots were established in dominant forest communities of Europe. Due to their demonstration character the selection of plots was non-systematic. They do, however, cover a broad range of forest types (e.g. beech-oak, beech-fir (-spruce), oak-hornbeam, pine-spruce, etc.), altitudinal gradient (from 25 m – 1850 m) and site conditions (e.g. oligotrophic Luzulo-Fagetum or Vaccinio-Pinetum to mesotrophic Galio-Fagetum or Milio-Fagetum). For each plot the following data is collected: (1) tree location as polar coordinates (stem base map), (2) tree species, (3) forest mensuration data (dbh in [cm], tree height in [m]), (4) tree related microhabitats (TreMs) and (5) tree status (living or standing dead). In addition to the spatial dendrometric data we provide information on plot establishment, management history (year of last intervention), forest type, plot location (state, region, country), elevation, means for annual precipitation and temperature, and the natural forest community.
Link GBIF portal : https://www.gbif.org/dataset/2e102194-f384-4712-89a4-5db7a3fc409a
Project :
Title : Establishing a European network of demonstration sites for the integration of biodiversity conservation into forest management (Integrate+)
Abstract : Integrate+ aimed at establishing permanent plots as demonstration sites (Marteloscopes) in main forest types in Europe. Focus was on showing good practice examples of integrative forest management concepts. Integrate+ developed IT support tools for decision-making when it comes to linking objectives of biodiversity conservation and timber production. Such mobile training software applications ("I+") will continue to allow practitioners to perform virtual tree selection exercises in the demonstration sites based on different scenarios and forest management strategies. Immediate feedback on their decisions is given in terms of ecological and economic impacts. Particular attention in Integrate+ was given to tree related microhabitats as these structures are home to many, also endangered, species. Retaining and restoring such habitats in managed forests can be well integrated into the work portfolio of forest managers and thus be a direct contribution to biodiversity conservation in managed forests.
Funding : The project was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
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