Effect of Aspect-Slope on the Growth of Conifers in a Harsh Boreal Climate of Northwest Sweden

Tree development is affected by different factors including topographic features. The effect could be even more complex in harsh environments such as in the northwest of Sweden. In this study, we analyzed the effect of aspect-slope on the development up to the age of 34 years of five species: black spruce, lodgepole pine, Norway spruce, Siberian larch and Scots pine. The species were planted in a field experiment on the southwest slope, mountaintop, and northeast slope in a randomized complete block design in the northwest of Sweden (latitude 67 degrees) with 2 m x 2 m spacing. No re-measurement data were available and, as such, retrospective diameters and heights were derived from sample discs and measurement of length to every branch whorl, respectively. Variations in tree survival rate, height and diameter were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model. The results showed that there were significant (p < 0.05) differences between species in survival rate, diameter and height growth; in some cases, differences were found between contrasting aspect-slope. Black spruce and Siberian larch had the best survival rate under this harsh boreal climate. However, Siberian larch had the best growth and developed well on the mountaintop and northeast slope. Lodgepole pine developed well on the southwest slope. Scots pine also grew well on the southwest slope and mountaintop. Norway spruce had the slowest growth. Based on this study, Siberian larch and lodgepole pine can serve as alternatives to the two traditional conifer species, Norway spruce and Scots pine, used in Sweden. Siberian larch is particularly suitable because it is able to withstand the harshness of the boreal environment

Different management regimes in a boreal forest landscape : ecological and economic effects

Five management regimes were theoretically applied and evaluated in a 10 000 ha boreal forest landscape. Four regimes were designed to enhance conditions for biodiversity conservation, by establishing reserves and by modifying stand management. One regime was purely for timber production. Effects on biodiversity were assessed in terms of changes in population sizes within species or as number of species within ecological groups of the Red-listed species in the landscape. Assessments were based on the effects of management regimes on natural features of significance to animal and plant diversity. Effects on growing stock, harvest level, and economic return were assessed by means of the Forest Management Planning Package. Results indicate that biodiversity can be preserved only if the landscape is managed to satisfy the demands of species that require continuity in habitat conditions, and if management recognises fire-generated successions in boreal forest. Such management encompasses a system of patches managed so that important successional stages are always present in the landscape. The regime based on traditional silviculture did not encompass such features and, consequently, did not maintain biodiversity in the landscape. In the traditional silviculture regime, the future amount of deciduous trees was constant while the amount of old forest strongly decreased. As expected, this regime also generated the highest economic output. The decrease in harvested volumes and net incomes in the other regimes was approximately proportional to the reduction in non-protected, productive forest land

Relations between structural characteristics, forest involvement, and forest knowledge among private forest owners in Sweden

An understanding of private forest owners is needed for appropriate forest governance and outreach to forest owners. This study examined different types of objective and subjective knowledge (i.e., actual knowledge and confidence, respectively), including general forest knowledge and knowledge of management for different objectives, among individual private forest owners in Sweden. In addition, the importance of structural variables (e.g., gender, size of forest holding) and forest involvement variables (e.g., certification, involvement in forest planning) for forest knowledge was analysed. The study was conducted by means of a postal questionnaire to a random sample of private forest owners in Sweden (n = 3000, response rate 43%). Structural variables, but particularly involvement variables, were found to be related to subjective and objective knowledge. Being a male owner, owning a larger forest holding, having bought the land, and having owned the forest a long time were associated with higher subjective knowledge, or confidence, in managing the forest. Although being a male owner, for example, was also associated with higher levels of objective knowledge, the correlation diminished when controlling for forest involvement. The study considers the role of learning environments for forest owners and highlights the need to elaborate on the conceptualization and measurement of forest knowledge to understand the links between structural characteristics, forest involvement, and forest knowledge among private forest owners

The Knowledge and Value Basis of Private Forest Management in Sweden : Actual Knowledge, Confidence, and Value Priorities

With growing demands on forests, there is a need to understand the drivers of managing the forest for diverse objectives, such as production, recreation, and climate adaptation. The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge and value basis of forest management behaviors, including different management strategies and management inactivity, among private forest owners in Sweden. Different dimensions of knowledge (declarative and procedural knowledge, assessed in terms of objective and subjective knowledge measures) and value priorities (basic values and forest values), as well as the role of forest owner identity, were examined. The study was conducted by means of a postal questionnaire to a random sample of private forest owners in Sweden (n = 3000, response rate 43%). The distinctions between actual knowledge (objective knowledge), confidence (subjective knowledge), and value priorities, in addition to the hierarchical structure of how these factors are linked to management behaviors, proved to be valuable. Results revealed that different knowledge dimensions and value priorities were jointly important for forest management behaviors. In addition, the role of forest owner identity for management behaviors was confirmed. Insights from the study may be used to develop policy and outreach to private forest owners and thereby facilitate different forest functions in private forestry

Effect of Aspect-Slope on the Growth of Conifers in a Harsh Boreal Climate of Northwest Sweden

Tree development is affected by different factors including topographic features. The effect could be even more complex in harsh environments such as in the northwest of Sweden. In this study, we analyzed the effect of aspect-slope on the development up to the age of 34 years of five species: black spruce, lodgepole pine, Norway spruce, Siberian larch and Scots pine. The species were planted in a field experiment on the southwest slope, mountaintop, and northeast slope in a randomized complete block design in the northwest of Sweden (latitude 67&deg;) with 2 m &times; 2 m spacing. No re-measurement data were available and, as such, retrospective diameters and heights were derived from sample discs and measurement of length to every branch whorl, respectively. Variations in tree survival rate, height and diameter were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model. The results showed that there were significant (p &lt; 0.05) differences between species in survival rate, diameter and height growth; in some cases, differences were found between contrasting aspect-slope. Black spruce and Siberian larch had the best survival rate under this harsh boreal climate. However, Siberian larch had the best growth and developed well on the mountaintop and northeast slope. Lodgepole pine developed well on the southwest slope. Scots pine also grew well on the southwest slope and mountaintop. Norway spruce had the slowest growth. Based on this study, Siberian larch and lodgepole pine can serve as alternatives to the two traditional conifer species, Norway spruce and Scots pine, used in Sweden. Siberian larch is particularly suitable because it is able to withstand the harshness of the boreal environment

In the eye of the stakeholder : the challenges of governing social forest values

This study examines which kinds of social benefits derived from forests are emphasised by Swedish stakeholders and what governance modes and management tools they accept. Our study shows that there exists a great variety among stakeholders’ perceptions of forests’ social values, where tourism and recreation is the most common reference. There are also differences in preferred governance modes and management where biomass and bioenergy sectors advocate business as usual (i.e. framework regulations and voluntarism) and other stakeholders demand rigid tools (i.e. coercion and targeting) and improved landscape planning. This divide will have implications for future policy orientations and require deliberative policy processes and improved dialogue among stakeholders and authorities. We suggest that there is a potential for these improvements, since actors from almost all stakeholder groups support local influence on governance and management, acknowledged and maintained either by the authorities, i.e. targeting, or by the stakeholders themselves, i.e. voluntarism.Future Forest