Forest management planning in mixed-species forests

Abstract

In this chapter, we outline how forest management planning (FMP) develops in order to meet the requirements or even support the transition from far-fromnature monocultures to close-to-nature polycultures. We first introduce the various concepts and main steps of FMP in practice. The second section deals with the principle of participation, a key aspect of multiple-purpose FMP, which includes examples of how models may support the change towards complex mixed-species stands. The fourth section sketches how FMP has been enhanced to address mixed-species forests as well as problems that are yet to be addressed. In the last three sections, we demonstrate an example of FMP in a close-tonature forest estate, including the assessment of biodiversity and landscape aesthetics based on grid-based inventory data. A second example demonstrates the components of a size-class model, which is applicable in mixed, unevenaged forest. The chapter presents the further development of FMP which will be necessary in view of the close-to-nature management paradigm.