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Intensification of forest management is required due to contrasting trends of growing demand to use renewable materials and boost carbon sequestration, while simultaneously decreasing area of managed forest. Additionally, increasing frequency of natural disturbances creates difficulties to ensure production of high-quality saw-logs. One of the strategies to overcome (or at least minimize) the negative impacts is establishment of low-density plantations, intended for relatively short rotation (c.a. 50 years). Aim o...

Norway spruce (Pice abies (L.) Karst.) is a late successional, economically significant tree species. It can regenerate in clearcuts (formed as result of management or natural disturbances) under the cover of young deciduous pioneer tree species. Such areas of unmanaged young deciduous tree stands are rather common in hemiboreal forests due to, mainly, financial reasons. Moreover, due to increasing browsing pressure, also area of very damaged young (primarily, aspen) stands is increasing. Therefore it is important...

Climate change is expected to improve the increment of trees in Northern Europe, as suggested by results of numerous models. Recent analysis of empirical data from Central Europe have demonstrated an improved growth of Norway spruce over the last century due to several factors, including climate change. Aim of our study was to assess the changes of increment of young Pice abies on wet and drained mineral soils over a rotation period (80 years) in Latvia. Increment cores at breast height were taken from 119 trees a...