Birch Sapling Responses to Severity and Timing of Domestic Herbivore Browsing — Implications for Management

Abstract

The interactions between birch and domestic grazers, primarily sheep, are examined and discussed, with emphasis on the sustainable management of both the forests and the livestock. Case-study examples are drawn from four countries: Scotland, northern Finland, Greenland and Iceland. This paper presents a summary of the findings from field observations and simulated browsing experiments under different environmental conditions, and an exploration of how changes in the current management regimes might affects the dynamics of these birch systems. Details of the browsing regimes and the status of birch in each country are given in the enclosed CD, together with details of study sites and experimental methods used. Current activities to improve grazing management in birch forest areas are also discussed.