%0 Research article
%T Tree regeneration in artificial canopy gaps established for restoring natural structural variability in a Scots pine stand
%A Rouvinen, Seppo
%A Kouki, Jari
%D 2011
%J Silva Fennica
%V 45
%N 5
%R doi:10.14214/sf.88
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/88
%X In Finland and elsewhere in Europe, many protected forest areas include  also stands that were previously managed and that lack several naturally  occurring stand characteristics. In these areas, ecosystem restoration  can be used to facilitate and accelerate the formation of structural and  habitat features resembling those of natural forests. For example, by  creating small gaps it could be possible to diversify forest structure  and tree species composition and to produce dead wood while still  maintaining mostly continous canopy coverage. We examined experimentally  the effects of artificial gap formation on post-disturbance tree  regeneration in the gaps in a young protected, but formerly commercially  managed pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) dominated forest. In the  experimental sites, gap size and the portion of girdled trees out of all  treated trees (girdled and felled trees combined) in the gaps varied.  Natural and artificial (direct seeding of silver birch Betula pendula  Roth) tree regeneration and development was monitored both on disturbed  (scarified soil patches) and undisturbed forest floor during three  growing seasons. Results show that gaps can be valuable in diversifying  stand structure but to be successful and rapid, tree regeneration needs  disturbed forest floor. Pine regenerated numerously, but birch had  clearly lower regeneration, especially on small-sized gaps. In  conclusion, increasing tree diversity in young pine-dominated forests  seems to be difficult when only small artificial gaps are used. But even  small gaps can be used to create and maintain diverse cohort structure  of the dominant species and thus they can contribute to restoration  goals.