Igor Drobyshev is the editor of the SNS funded Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, a scientific journal which publishes forest research from boreal and temperate regions worldwide, including silviculture, bioenergy, remote sensing and entomology. This is his collection of the best published papers 2023 in the journal.
Issue 1-2
Corresponding Author: Emelie Fredriksson
How do fires affect the food and foraging of moose (Alces alces) in Swedish forests? This question was explored by Fredriksson and colleagues (2023) in a new study where they compared the effects of previous wildfires and prescribed burns on the amount and diversity of forage and the browsing itself.
They discovered that wildfires created higher amount and variation of forage for moose, especially of deciduous trees, and attracted moose to a larger extent than prescribed burns.
The authors conclude that fire can be a useful tool to create forage for moose and promote deciduous trees in the boreal forest if the burns largely emulate wildfires. Potentially, there are important synergistic effects of forest fire for biodiversity and wild herbivores in boreal production forests.
Issue 3
Root frost tolerance, seasonal variation in root growth, and field performance of one-year-old Russian larch seedlings with simulated root freezing damages
Corresponding Author: Rakel J Jonsdottir
In this study, root frost tolerance in young Russian larch (Larix sukaczewii (Dyl.)) seedlings was examined during winter, just before seedlings were moved to outdoor storage.
The freezing tolerance fluctuated between months, as it was lower in January than it was in December. The LT50 value for root frost tolerance was −13.9°C in late January, but already at −10.6°C (LT10) root damages were severe.
After planting, seedlings with simulated freezing damages grew less and their survival was lower compared to seedlings with undamaged roots. Mortality in damaged seedling increased during the second growing season as well. The ongoing mortality demonstrates the long-lasting effects of planting seedlings with damaged root systems and the fluctuation in root frost tolerance of young Russian larch seedlings during winter emphasizes the need for care when seedlings are moved to outdoor storage.
Issue 4
Corresponding Author: Anssi Ahtikoski
The Siberian flying squirrel, thriving in mature mixed spruce-deciduous forests, has a red-listed status and is protected under EU’s Habitats Directive. The study deals with the selected forest area in Central Finland, where flying squirrel habitats exist, and which also is used for timber production and recreation.
Landscape-level modelling and simulations were used and trade-offs between timber production and enhancing habitats were calculated to assess how different practices affect these.
The study shows that it is possible to select and allocate forest management treatments in a way that allow us both to maintain and generate habitats and connection paths for flying squirrel with a financially viable manner. Results support the idea of synergy: by integrating existing restrictions with timber production and preservation of habitats is the most cost-efficient way to enhance flying squirrel’s living conditions in production forests.
Issue 5
The potential to develop environmental values on privately owned forest land in southern Sweden
Corresponding Author: Erika Olofsson
Due to forest owners’ multi-functional views, desired and practical management, there is considerable potential to develop environmental values on private land in southern Sweden.
Forest owners carry out many production promoting measures, but emphasize even more environmental, social, cultural and emotional purposes that, intentionally or unintentionally, benefit the environmental values in the forest. To facilitate the development of these values, policies incorporating forest owners’ ideas, financial incentives, the provision of resources, and management advice are suggested.
The results are based on in-depth interviews with private forest owners in southern Sweden.
Issue 6
Comparing stand growth models in optimizing mixed-species forest management
Corresponding Author: Vesa-Pekka Parkatti
Authors compared three different stand growth models for mixed-species forests in economic optimization.
Their findings show that while economically optimal forest management solutions across the models share several similarities, there are notable differences in the details. These differences largely stem from the ecological models describing natural regeneration of trees, highlighting a clear need for more reliable models.
Overall, all three growth models studied showed economic support for expanding continuous cover and mixed-species forest management practices.
Issues 7-8
Current state of mixed forests available for wood supply in Finland and Sweden
Corresponding Author: Daesung Lee
We analyzed the current state of mixed forests available for wood supply in Finland and Sweden. The proportion of mixed forest was similar in both countries.The major mixture types and main tree species were consistent between countries, such as pine-spruce, pine-birches, spruce-birches and pine-spruce-birches.
The proportion of mixed forest was larger in the southern boreal zone than in the northern boreal zone.