Development of microclimate modification patterns in forestry

Abstract

Regeneration of species of trees in their own partial shade apart, forest trees start life in microclimates similar to those of herbaceous annuals but grow to be the tallest of all plants (Smith et al. 1994). This last mentioned fact makes that forests develop their own microclimates that get modified during this development. The structure of forest stands can range from that of scattered trees (e.g. Kainkwa and Stigter 1994; Boffa 1999) to multi-storied multi-purpose forest gardens (where forestry becomes agroforestry) and tropical forests (e.g. Baldy and Stigter 1997). © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.