Structure and dynamics of a 215-years old broadleaved forest stand recently installed as a total forest reserve

Abstract

Since  1983, a 215-years old broadleaved stand in the state owned Zoniën Forest  (Belgium, Flanders) has been withdrawn from all silvicultural treatments.      Thanks to the completely reviewed forest law in Flanders of 1990, the stand  is now officially installed as a total forest reserve.     The present contribution gives an overview of the principal site  characteristics, and then focuses on the woody component of the ecosystem.  Stand structure analysis starts from the situation of 1986, i.e. dating from  before the spring tempests of 1990.     Subsequently, the impact of those gale forces is evaluated as a driving  factor in forest dynamics. In this particular stand, it was found that an  abrupt change-over took place from the regeneration phase to a real decaying  phase, resulting in a mosaic pattern with remnants of the old stand,  consolidated regeneration, canopy gaps and windfall areas of different  size.