Planning for both timber and biodiversity
With the help of the Heureka system (a software tool), SLU researchers have asked the question how the forest should be managed to provide both high profit and good habitats for various species.
The researchers chose to analyse appropriate habitats for the Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia). The Hazel Grouse is, along with other things, used as an indicator of landscape continuity in the European Natura 2000 network.
The Hazel Grouse inhabits mixed forests that are at least 20 years old. In addition, 20 per cent of the surrounding area must fulfill its habitat requirements, a spatial aspect which has to be taken account.
Based on this, the researchers presented two different scenarios of forest development over 100 years (see maps below). The spatial aspect was included in scenario (b).
The blue areas in the maps show good habitats for the Hazel Grouse. In map (a) you can see that the areas are small and scattered, which reduces the chance to find good habitats. In (b) the areas are more gathered, which favours the Hazel Grouse. The income from timber production decreased with less than one per cent between the two scenarios, in terms of the present money value. This means that the habitat requirements of the Hazel Grouse are better met at a marginal decrease in profit.
The method used in this study makes it possible for forest owners and policy makers to learn how to weigh objectives for timber production against habitat requirements for various species.
Writer:
Mona Bonta Bergman & Karin Öhman (red. Ulla Ahlgren)
Published:
2012-01-03
Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia). Photo: Lars Edenius/SLU.
Facts about the Heureka system
Within the Heureka project, a software tool has been developed for forest management planning and analysis, with special focus on multi-purpose forestry. The Heureka system makes it possible to analyse both short- and long-term scenarios of timber production, economy, nature conservation, recreation and carbon storage.