Planning and implementing forest operations to achieve ... - Woodweb

4. Veryoldwoodand deadwood, in different tendency towards abalancedpatchworkof
stagesof development,housevariousgroups
stands in the forest legacy, which arealso
of wood-eatingandsaproxylophagus
accessible environments.This primary
insects. In theRomersbergrangethey are
objectivealso encompassesthe maintenance
nowadayspoorlyrepresented,because,until
of ecologically outstandingenvironmentsat
thebeginning of the 19th century,the forest
the forestscale (stands of elm, stands of
wasessentiallylogged for its coppices,
alder, mixed stands on the edge of ponds,
withoutany reservebeing set up(Degron,
forestpools, badger sets),
1995a).The oldwoodin the rangeis thus
barely200 yearsold. 2. The maintenanceof the currentlevel -
recognizedas high - of outstandingbird
5. On the forest scale,an originalbio-coenosis populationsin the range (collared
has beenintroducedor might be introduced
flycatcher,middle spotted woodpecker).
in the small forestpools - 55 pools coveting
aboutfourhectaresin all. 3. A comprehensiveenhancementof the
accessibilitypotential, foranimal life, of the
6. The sets of badgers(Melesmeles) have a range, associated with old wood and dead
certainbiologicalimportanceasbreeding
sites forsome protectedcarnivores,
specificallythe wild cat (Fells sylvestris),
Towardsan overallandconcertedmanagementplan
The preliminarystudieshaveshownthat the
maintenanceof biodiversitywas compatible,if not
associated,with a formof silviculture directedat the
productionof qualitytimber.The conditionsfor
taking intoaccount the variouselements makingup
the natural heritagewerethen drawnup. They were
approvedby the Romersbergsteering committee,
Using a coherentpooling of data, each specialized
naturalistmanagedto find a soundingboardforhis
particularconcerns,
The forest manager's choices and methods: forest
planning
Incorporatingthe ecological function in the
productionfunction
Bearing the aboveanalysisin mind, the major
choices forthe Romersbergforestmanagement
schemefocus quitelogically on two key points:
matter(development, in due course, of
populationsof wood-eatingand
saproxylophagousinsects). Dead matter,
poorlyrepresentedtodayin the range,must
be regardedas a normal,natural component
of the forestenvironment.
Integratedmanagementmethods: changesand
continuity
To achievethese goals, severalmethods canbe
envisaged. Someare partand parcel of past
managementschemes,others representan innovative
inputforan overallforest managementstructure.
The generalmanagementframeworkstill involves
the conversionof coppices-with-standardsto regular
highforest,with oak as the targetspecies. The
regenerationprogrammefor old stands must be as
progressive as possible,to aim forthe best possible
equilibriumof the forest'smake-up. These old stands
will be logged overa 90-yearperiod to avoid any
abruptdropin production.The method of the
enlargedregenerationgroup mustbe used. A plot
canthus be very progressivelyregeneratedover30
years,i.e. twice the applicationperiod of the
managementplan.Lastly, naturalregenerationis to
be encouraged.
1. The productionof qualityoak wood.
Alongsidethis framework,which is very
2. A broadconsideration of biodiversity
factors,
traditionallyused in the managementOfFrance's
lowlandforests, severalother measurescan still be :
takento incorporatespecific restrictionsassociated
The incorporationof the ecologicalfunctioncan be with the naturalheritage. In the caseof wetlands, a
specified in terms of threepreciseobjectives:
conservancy-orientedmanagement schemefor
outstandingsitesmust be applied, which will makeit
1. The sustainablemaintenanceof possibleto separatethese environmentsquite
environmentaldiversity,which entailsa
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distinctly from the general managementof oakand