Taru Rikkonen, Ville Hallikainen, Minna Turunen, Pasi Rautio. (2025). Pendulous lichen colonization in small gap openings can enable a resource continuum for reindeer. Silva Fennica vol. 59 no. 3 article id 25021. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.25021

Keywords: continuous cover forestry; forestry; uneven-aged forestry; multiple use of forests; reindeer husbandry; land use conflicts; small gap cutting

Highlights: Pendulous lichens successfully colonized seedlings in small gap openings; Colonization was most successful in the smallest gaps (d = 20 m) and near gap edges; Higher seedling density and greater seedling height increased the probability of lichen colonization; Pendulous lichens on adjacent mature trees promoted colonization within gaps; Small gap cutting can facilitate the coexistence of commercial forestry and reindeer husbandry.

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In northern Finland, continuous cover forestry (CCF), has been introduced to better reconcile multiple land uses, including commercial forestry and reindeer husbandry. We studied how small gap cutting, a CCF method, can facilitate the colonization of pendulous lichens (Alectoria sp., Bryoria sp., and Usnea sp.), a bottle-neck resource for reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), into harvested areas. To assess the potential for balancing between forestry and reindeer husbandry, we investigated the colonization success of pendulous lichen on seedlings within the gaps created ten years before onset of our study in a pine-dominated boreal forest in central Finnish Lapland. The study included three gap sizes (diameters 20, 40, and 80 m) in xeric and sub-xeric sites, arranged in six randomized blocks, with 18 replicates per each gap size. Additionally, we examined the influence of gaps on the abundance of pendulous lichens in mature trees in the surrounding forest. Our results indicate that pendulous lichens colonized the smallest gaps (d = 20 m) efficiently, while colonization success declined as gap size increased. Colonization was strongly associated with seedling density, as a higher number of seedlings within gaps increased the probability of lichen colonized seedlings. The highest colonization rates occurred near gap edges, with lower colonization in the center. Furthermore, seedling height positively influenced colonization, and the presence of pendulous lichens on adjacent mature trees enhanced seedling colonization within gaps. However, we also observed that gap edges significantly reduced the amount of pendulous lichens on mature trees.

Rikkonen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Ounasjoentie 6, FI-96200 Rovaniemi, Finland; Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, POB 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7352-5241 E-mail: taru.rikkonen@luke.fi
Hallikainen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Ounasjoentie 6, FI-96200 Rovaniemi, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5384-8265 E-mail: ext.ville.hallikainen@luke.fi
Turunen, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, POB 122, FI-96101 Rovaniemi, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3425-6472 E-mail: minna.turunen@ulapland.fi
Rautio, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Ounasjoentie 6, FI-96200 Rovaniemi, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0559-7531 E-mail: pasi.rautio@luke.fi

article id 1741, category Research article

Seppo Nevalainen. (2017). Comparison of damage risks in even- and uneven-aged forestry in Finland. Silva Fennica vol. 51 no. 3 article id 1741. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1741

Keywords: forest damage; uneven-aged forestry; even-aged forestry

Highlights: Damage risks in two forest management regimes were estimated by means of a literature review and a questionnaire to Finnish forestry experts; Damage risks were usually estimated to be higher in even-aged than in uneven-aged management regimes; In some cases, however, damage risks may be higher in uneven-aged stands (root-rot infected Norway spruce stands and mechanical damage due to repeated thinnings).

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The literature on the most prominent forest damage related to even-aged and uneven-aged forest management regimes was reviewed. A questionnaire to expert researchers was conducted to estimate risks in even-aged and uneven-aged forest management chains in Finland. There are only a few empirical comparisons of damage risks in even- and uneven-aged stands in the literature. The results from the expert survey showed that the damage risks were higher in even-aged management in Norway spruce and Scots pine. However, the variation in the risks between individual chains and between individual causes was high. The highest risks in Scots pine were caused by moose (in even-aged chains) and harvesting damage (in uneven-aged chains). In Norway spruce, root rot caused the highest risks in both even-aged and uneven-aged chains. The higher risks in even-aged forestry are largely due to the many associated practices which favour various types of damage. However, there are some important exceptions: the damage risks may be higher in some uneven-aged stands, especially in Norway spruce stands infected with root rot where the utilization of undergrowth or natural regeneration can be risky. Moreover, the repeated thinnings in uneven-aged stands may lead to increased mechanical damage.

Nevalainen, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Natural Resources and Bioproduction, Yliopistokatu 6, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland E-mail: seppo.nevalainen@luke.fi

article id 1046, category Research article

Eva-Maria Nordström, Hampus Holmström, Karin Öhman. (2013). Evaluating continuous cover forestry based on the forest owner’s objectives by combining scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis. Silva Fennica vol. 47 no. 4 article id 1046. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.1046

Keywords: forest planning; decision making; sustainable forest management; uneven-aged forestry

Highlights: Scenario analysis and multiple criteria decision analysis were combined to evaluate alternative forest management strategies for Linköping municipality, Sweden; Continuous cover forestry (CCF) promoted ecological and social objectives better than even-aged forestry but was worse for economic objectives; Ecological and social objectives were important to the municipality and thus, in summary, CCF seemed to be a suitable strategy.

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Forests are increasingly managed both to provide a sustainable yield of timber and for supplying a range of ecosystem services in line with the concept of sustainable forest management. Several incommensurable interests must then be considered, and it is necessary to strike a balance between different objectives. In evaluation of trade-offs to be made, both objective factors and subjective values need to be taken into account. In recent years, continuous cover forestry (CCF) has been put forward as an alternative to even-aged forestry. The aim of this study was to use scenario analysis in combination with multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to evaluate whether CCF is a suitable strategy based on the decision makers’ objectives and preferences for sustainable forest management in a specific landscape. This approach was applied to a planning case on the forest estate of the Linköping municipality in southwestern Sweden. The scenario analyses provided insights into relevant quantitative factors, while the MCDA evaluation helped in clarifying the objectives of the forest management and in assessing the relative importance of various objectives. The scenario analyses showed that in this case CCF is a good management strategy in ecological and social terms but yields worse economic outcomes than conventional even-aged forestry. In the Linköping case, there was a relatively strong emphasis on ecological and social aspects and thus, in summary, CCF seemed to be the most suitable option.

Nordström, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Resource Management, Skogsmarksgränd, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden E-mail: eva-maria.nordstrom@slu.se
Holmström, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Resource Management, Skogsmarksgränd, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden E-mail: hampus.holmstrom@slu.se
Öhman, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Resource Management, Skogsmarksgränd, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden E-mail: karin.ohman@slu.se

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