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Forestry Advance Access first published online on June 19, 2008
This version published online on June 30, 2008
Forestry, doi:10.1093/forestry/cpn028
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© Institute of Chartered Foresters, 2008. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Wind and Trees Special Issue

The wind stability of different silvicultural systems for Douglas-fir in the Netherlands: a model-based approach

M. J. Schelhaas*

Centre for Ecosystem Studies, Alterra, Wageningen UR, PO Box 47, NL-6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

* Corresponding author. E-mail: martjan.schelhaas{at}wur.nl


  Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate different silvicultural systems for Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in the Netherlands in terms of timber production and wind stability over a full rotation. This was done using the forest genetics, ecology, management and wind model (ForGEM-W), which combines a distant dependent tree growth simulator with a mechanical–empirical wind damage module. Six different silvicultural systems were evaluated: normal yield table management, free thinning from above in a monospecies and a mixed stand (50 per cent mixture of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)), uneven-aged system, no thinning regime with low initial stand density of Douglas-fir with and without admixture of beech. Silvicultural systems leading to low height–diameter (h/d) ratios were most successful in avoiding damage. Low h/d ratios were obtained in the system with low stand density and no thinning and in the uneven-aged system by systematically removing trees with the highest ratios during thinning. In particular, the uneven-aged system combined a high timber production with low risk. The use of Douglas-fir–beech mixtures changed the competition pressure on Douglas-fir, and thus the h/d ratio and the wind risk. Results from this study indicate that the current trend towards more nature-oriented management could lead to lower wind risks and even to an increase in overall productivity.

Received 3 August 2007.
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