Long-term impacts of wood extraction on forest structure and species composition

Long-term consequences of selective logging on forest structure and species composition are largely unknown, particularly in tropical and temperate rain forests. We applied the process-based forest growth model FORMIND to simulate forest dynamics under several logging scenarios for Valdivian temperate rain forest in Chile and tropical montane cloud forest in central Veracruz, Mexico. Our results showed that even low levels of harvesting can severely alter forest structure and species composition in the long term. If we are to minimize ecological impacts of logging in natural forests, our simulations suggest that management strategies should aim to keep an uneven-aged forest structure, particularly the retention of some canopy-emergent, old trees to ensure the maintenance of forest biodiversity.

Keywords: Forest model, FORMIND, selective logging, sustainable forest management, tropical montane cloud forest, Valdivian temperate rain forest.

Publications:

• Rüger, N., Gutiérrez, Á.G., Kissling, W.D., Armesto, J.J. & Huth, A. (2007): Ecological impacts of different harvesting scenarios for temperate evergreen rain forest in southern Chile – a simulation experiment. Forest Ecology and Management 252: 52–66. [Abstract]
• Rüger, N., Williams-Linera, G., Kissling, W.D. & Huth, A. (2008): Long-term impacts of fuelwood extraction on a tropical montane cloud forest. Ecosystems 252: 52–66. [Abstract] [Feature in ICAN Newsletter]

W. Daniel Kissling