A land manager's guide to conserving habitat for forest birds in ...

Beech, maple forest — Photo: Al Woodliffe
Forest Succession — Part 1
Change is constant on the land. Nature has a basic progression of plant and animal communities. As a field matures to a forest, or goes through the
process of succession, there are a series of changes in species composition of plant and wildlife communities. Some species prefer young forests,
some prefer older forests, and others require different successional stages at various times in their life (see Bird Response to Forest Management
Practices pages 50 to 53). Depending on the harvesting techniques used, you will create or maintain different successional stages of forest, which
favour different groups of birds. From a songbird perspective, the “best” approach to management may depend on availability of habitat nearby or
the sensitivity of species in the area. By retaining a variety of ages and successional stages on the landscape we can ensure a healthy and diverse
wildlife community across southern Ontario.
Succession is one of the most important concepts in natural resource management. Nature continually changes. Whether you do something
or nothing, your land will change over time. It is critical to understand natural changes when using managed systems. Disturbances occur from
natural causes such as wind, fire, and pest infestation. Disturbances can also be the result of human activities such as timber harvesting or forest
management. These disturbances represent an alteration in the course of succession. With forest management, the manipulation of succession is
intentional, and proceeds with a goal in mind.
Conifer Plantation Succeeding to Natural Mixed Hardwood
Late Successional (Old Growth)
Early Successional (Pioneer)
0 time 150+ years
Natural Deciduous Forest Succession
0 time 150+ years
Artwork: Peter Burke
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Introduction