Risks associated with measures to enhance biodiversity in European Scots pine forests

Abstract

The conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in European forests is an integral part of sustainable forest management, making it necessary to incorporate into forest operations measures specifically designed to meet the needs of wildlife. Scots pine forests make up a considerable proportion of the total forest area of western Europe and so could make an important contribution to forest biodiversity within the European Union. Pine silviculture is often based on clearfelling and replanting regimes, which produce relatively simple stand structures and landscapes. However, the growing appreciation of the importance of biodiversity has led to modifications being made to forestry methods, including changes to silvicultural systems, the retention of broadleaved trees, provision of deadwood as wildlife habitat, sensitive open ground and edge zone management, prescribed burning, and encouragement of natural regeneration. In many instances, these measures have been adopted with only limited attention given to their potential ecological and economic risks, such as pests and pathogens, habitat loss and fragmentation for some species, and future operational problems. This paper reviews the range of measures which have been proposed and, in some instances, adopted; and assesses the risks associated with them.