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WSL Home About WSL Research Units Forest Resources and ManagementStand dynamics and silviculture

Stand dynamics and silviculture

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We study stand dynamics and how they can be influenced by man. We thereby focus
on the following topics:

Growth and yield research, with a focus on continous-cover and plenter forests
Forest dynamics in forest reserves
Virgin forest research in the Ukraine
Adaptation of forest trees to climate change
Forest succession and young forest tending
Forest-ungulate interactions and browsing

We maintain and manage a net of long-term permanent plots and use the data in simulation models of forest dynamics. Our research contributes to an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable forest management.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Integration of biodiversity conservation and forest management

The publication "How to balance biodiversity conservation and forest management - a tour across Europe" written by more than 70 scientific and professional experts from 50 Institutions and 20 different countries explores how to best integrate biodiversity conservation in forest management

Modelling forest growth using 3-PG

Testing 3-PG in uneven-aged forests, comparing predictions with an empirical model and developing a 3-PG R package.

Tree species map of Switzerland

Despite the technical developments in the remote sensing sector that have emerged recently, data collection, efficient processing and especially storage of big data, and classifications over large areas are still insufficient.

Baumartenempfehlungen im Klimawandel

Die Tree App liefert für jeden Punkt im Schweizer Wald eine Baumartenempfehlung für das heutige Klima und für zwei Klimazukünfte, einen mässigen und einen starken Klimawandel. Sie unterstützt die Waldbewirtschafter dabei, Baumarten zu wählen, die in einem wärmeren und trockeneren Klima gedeihen.

FORClimateS

The project aims to aggregate and synthesize existing information on different spatial and temporal scales to provide decision-makers with relevant and robust information on short- and long-term risks for forests and forest functions and on adaptation strategies under different climate futures

Preserving 100+ years of growth plot data

This project will digitise the 100+ years worth of data that is stored in field note books, plot maps, hand-drawn root structures and crown maps etc.

Long-term growth and yield data

WSL has been investigating the growth of trees and forests since being founded in 1887. The results of this research form an important basis for sustainable forest management.

Ungulate browsing on tree regeneration in Swiss forests

The temporal development of the influence of wild ungulate species on tree regeneration in Swiss forests is estimated using data from the Swiss National Forest Inventory and density estimates of roe deer, chamois and red deer.

Carbon storage and ungulate browsing

The joint effects of drought tolerance and herbivory is determined by analysing the extent to which water use efficiency and C storage of Abies alba saplings are influenced by genetic factors and ungulate browsing.

Experimental plantations of tree species

With a network of 57 experimental plantations we investigate which tree species and seed provenances will grow well in the Swiss forest under the climatic conditions in 50 - 100 years.

Anbauversuch mit Gastbaumarten im Bois de Forel

Ein 1970 angelegter Versuch mit gebietsfremden Baumarten wurde als ertragskundliche Fläche eingerichtet. Der trocken-warme Standort entspricht Verhältnissen, die im Mittelland im Zuge des Klimawandels häufiger werden. Am besten wuchsen innert 47 Jahren Douglasien und Atlaszedern.

Primeval forest structures and biodiversity: A Swiss-Ukrainian research cooperation

The primeval forests of the Carpathians, which are similar to many forests in Switzerland with regards to tree species composition and growth conditions, are therefore of high interest to WSL as research and reference objects.

Change inventory Uholka

A partial repetition of the sample plot inventory of 2010, where 314 plots were measured, will allow representative conclusions about the temporal change of the forest structure, the regeneration, the tree composition and the deadwood in the primeval beech forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh.

Remote sensing Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh

In order to quantify the vegetation in its 3D structure and to be able to model the topography of the surveyed area, a LiDAR aerial survey will be carried out during spring of 2017.

Beech dominance

Beech forests provide important ecosystem services. In the primeval forest of Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh, 97% of the tree layer is composed of beech. The reasons for this extremely pronounced dominance are examined in this project.

Forest structure in the spruce-fir-beech primeval forest of Chornohora

In order to invest in the infrastructure and basis for future research in the area of forest dynamics, new permanent plots will be established in mountainous mixed primeval forests with spruce, fir and beech.

Forstliches Vermehrungsgut im Klimawandel

Anhand von Literaturrecherchen, Experteninterviews und Workshops wird der Status quo im Umgang mit forstlichem Vermehrungsgut in der Schweiz charakterisiert, Handlungsbedarf aufgezeigt und Handlungsoptionen skizziert. Im Fokus steht dabei der Klimawandel.

Vegetation height model NFI

For Switzerland, a national vegetation elevation model was calculated and updated on an ongoing basis. The ADS80 images routinely captured by swisstopo form the basis for the image matching workflow for deriving a 3D model of the landscape.

Monitoring natural forest reserves in Switzerland

We offer scientific support for monitoring natural forest reserves through the "Research and effectiveness controlling in Swiss forest reserves" partnership project of the WSL, ETH and FOEN.

Integrating Species Mixtures in Tree Growth Functions for Forest Development Models in Switzerland

The project advances the understanding of the effects of species mixtures on tree growth under a broad range of environmental conditions in Switzerland, and it prepares this knowledge for further development of forest scenario models.

Species Mixture Effects on Tree Growth

Clipping Experiment

In an genecological common garden experiment, we investigate quantitative genetic variation within and among Swiss provenances of Abies alba, Picea abies, and Fagus sylvatica, before and after clipping. Growth, resilience after simulated browsing and provenance differences are related to environmental variables of seed sources.

Characteristics of game impact

The relationship between the brwosing intensity and structure of the tree regeneration is complex. In this project, knowlege gaps in the characteristics to evaluate the influence of game will be explored by means of further investigations in indicator areas in the canton of St. Gallen and the potential additional features will be tested form foresters for their practicality in the region Calanda. The aim is to approach a scientifically sound and at the same simple monitoring for game influence on forest regeneration.

Harvesting intensity

An optimal management of mountain forests is economically viable, maintains and ensures the protection against natural hazards, creates good conditions for regeneration and maintains stand increment in the long-term at high levels. These requirements pose complex optimization tasks for managers.

GTREE

We investigate seedling emergence and survival of Norway spruce and European larch at treeline in an experiment at Stillberg near Davos.

Impact of browsing

Tree regeneration is part of the normal diet of ungulates species such as roe and red deer and chamois. Silver fir and sycamore maple are particularly preferred tree species for ungulate browsing, but also silvicultural important tree species. Analyses of data from long-term surveys in indicator areas are used to determine whether and how ungulate browsing affect the structure of regeneration in the long term, i.e. the size distribution of the tree species.

Exotic tree species

Exotic tree species, which are adapted to a warmer and dryer climate, could contribute to coping with climate change. Six such species are tested in a long-term field experiment near Mutrux (Canton of Vaud).

Nadelbäume und Trockenheit

Sehr starke waldbauliche Eingriffe im Gebirgswald können kurzfristig ökonomisch vorteilhaft sein. Langfristig könnten sie aber die Waldverjüngung verzögern und den Holzuwachs vermindern. Ob solche nachteiligen Auswirkungen auftreten und wie gross sie allenfalls sind, wird mit retrospektiven ertragskundlichen und dendroökologischen Erhebungen in Gebirgswäldern abgeschätzt.

Genetic Variation

Die Klimerwärmung dürfte den Wald auf vielen Standorten unter Stress setzen. Wir untersuchen, ob die genetische Variation der Waldbäume es ihnen erlaubt, sich an den Klimawandel anzupassen. Wir fokussieren dabei auf die drei häufigsten Baumarten in Schweizer Wäldern, die Fichte, die Tanne und die Buche.

Dynamics of dead wood and saproxylic insects

Dead wood is a vital prerequisite for a quarter of all organisms living in a forest. The future intensification of forest management will pose a threat to many wood inhabiting (saproxylic) insect species. In forest reserves the formation and decay process of dead wood is quantified and the importance of micro-habitats for saproxylic beetles is investigated.

Young growth tending

Each year, about 50 Millions CHF are invested in tending interventions in Swiss forestry. In a field experiment of 7.3 ha size, we study how four tending variants affect tree species richness and stem quality in the long term. Particular interest is given to the question how minority species present in mixed stands can be maintained against the highly competitive beech.

Group planting

After large-scale storm damage, the density of seedlings from natural regeneration is sometimes insufficient. In such cases, planting is justified. The cost-effective establishment of such plantations, and in particular the planting in small groups, is the focus of this project.

The group selection system

The effects of selective thinning and group selection cuts on stand growth and stability are studied in this long-term project. The aim is to derive silvicultural recommendations for risk reduction in mountain forests.

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Publications

Fabian, Y.; Holderegger, R.; Bollmann, K.; Brang, P.; Heiri, C.; Olschewski, R.; Rigling, A.; Stofer, S., 2020: Welche Informationsquellen nutzt die Naturschutzpraxis? Which information sources are used by professionals in nature conservation?. Natur und Landschaft, 95, 3: 179-184.

Read, Q.D.; Zarnetske, P.L.; Record, S.; Dahlin, K.M.; Costanza, J.K.; Finley, A.O.; Gaddis, K.D.; Grady, J.M.; Hobi, M.L.; Latimer, A.M.; Malone, S.L.; Ollinger, S.V.; Pau, S.; Wilson, A.M., 2020: Beyond counts and averages: Relating geodiversity to dimensions of biodiversity. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 29, 4: 696-710. doi: 10.1111/geb.13061

Kupferschmid, A.D.; Gmür, P.A., 2020: Methoden zur Einschätzung des Verbisseinflusses: Vergleich der Messungen an den k nächsten Bäumchen mit Zählungen im Probekreis. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 171, 2: 69-78.

Kupferschmid, A.D.; Gmür, P.A., 2020: Einschätzung des Verbisseinflusses in zwei Wildräumen des Kantons St. Gallen. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Forstwesen, 171, 2: 79-90.

Trotsiuk, V.; Hartig, F.; Cailleret, M.; Babst, F.; Forrester, D.I.; Baltensweiler, A.; Buchmann, N.; Bugmann, H.; Gessler, A.; Gharun, M.; Minunno, F.; Rigling, A.; Rohner, B.; Stillhard, J.; Thürig, E.; Waldner, P.; Ferretti, M.; Eugster, W.; Schaub, M., 2020: Assessing the response of forest productivity to climate extremes in Switzerland using model–data fusion. Global Change Biology, doi: 10.1111/gcb.15011

Zenner, E.K.; Peck, J.E.; Hobi, M.L., 2020: Development phase convergence across scale in a primeval European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forest. Forest Ecology and Management, 460: 117889 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2020.117889

Razenkova, E.; Radeloff, V.C.; Dubinin, M.; Bragina, E.V.; Allen, A.M.; Clayton, M.K.; Pidgeon, A.M.; Baskin, L.M.; Coops, N.C.; Hobi, M.L., 2020: Vegetation productivity summarized by the Dynamic Habitat Indices explains broad-scale patterns of moose abundance across Russia. Scientific Reports, 10: 836 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-57308-8

Kupferschmid, A.D.; Gmür, P.A., 2020: Verbisseinfluss in der Tannenwaldstufe. Zwei unterschiedliche Beispiele aus dem Kanton St. Gallen. Jagd und Natur, 12-17.

Torresan, C.; Del Río, M.; Hilmers, T.; Notarangelo, M.; Bielak, K.; Binder, F.; Boncina, A.; Bosela, M.; Forrester, D.I.; Hobi, M.L.; Nagel, T.A.; Bartkowicz, L.; Sitkova, Z.; Zlatanov, T.; Tognetti, R.; Pretzsch, H., 2020: Importance of tree species size dominance and heterogeneity on the productivity of spruce-fir-beech mountain forest stands in Europe. Forest Ecology and Management, 457: 117716 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117716

Synek, M.; Janda, P.; Mikoláš, M.; Nagel, T.A.; Schurman, J.S.; Pettit, J.L.; Trotsiuk, V.; Morrissey, R.C.; Bače, R.; Čada, V.; Brang, P.; Bugmann, H.; Begovič, K.; Chaskovskyy, O.; Dušátko, M.; Frankovič, M.; Kameniar, O.; Kníř, T.; Kozák, D.; ... Svoboda, M., 2020: Contrasting patterns of natural mortality in primary Picea forests of the Carpathian Mountains. Forest Ecology and Management, 457: 117734 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.117734

Bois mort en forêt. Formation, importance et conservation

Deuxième édition révisée: Le bois mort fait partie du cycle forestier naturel. Même si son volume augmente depuis quelques décennies dans la forêt suisse, les objectifs en matière de conservation ne sont pas encore atteints.

Notice pour le praticien 52

2019

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Totholz im Wald. Entstehung, Bedeutung und Förderung

Zweite überarbeitete Auflage: Totholz gehört zum natürlichen Waldzyklus und ist die Lebensgrundlage für zahlreiche Arten. Gezielte Massnahmen sind nötig, um anspruchsvolle Arten, die auf viel Totholz in einer bestimmten Qualität angewiesen sind, zu fördern.

Merkblatt für die Praxis 52

2019

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Kupferschmid, A.D., 2019: Verjüngungskontrolle St. Gallen: Auswertungen zur Piloterhebung 2018 in den Wildräumen 2 und 8. 103 p. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33154.02242

Frischbier, N.; Nikolova, P.S.; Brang, P.; Klumpp, R.; Aas, G.; Binder, F., 2019: Climate change adaptation with non-native tree species in Central European forests: early tree survival in a multi-site field trial. European Journal of Forest Research, 138, 6: 1015-1032. doi: 10.1007/s10342-019-01222-1

Forrester, D.I.; Rodenfels, P.; Haase, J.; Härdtle, W.; Leppert, K.N.; Niklaus, P.A.; Von Oheimb, G.; Scherer-Lorenzen, M.; Bauhus, J., 2019: Tree-species interactions increase light absorption and growth in Chinese subtropical mixed-species plantations. Oecologia, 191, 2: 421-432. doi: 10.1007/s00442-019-04495-w

Suttidate, N.; Hobi, M.L.; Pidgeon, A.M.; Round, P.D.; Coops, N.C.; Helmers, D.P.; Keuler, N.S.; Dubinin, M.; Bateman, B.L.; Radeloff, V.C., 2019: Tropical bird species richness is strongly associated with patterns of primary productivity captured by the Dynamic Habitat Indices. Remote Sensing of Environment, 232: 111306 (10 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2019.111306

Stillhard, J.; Hobi, M.; Hülsmann, L.; Brang, P.; Ginzler, C.; Kabal, M.; Nitzsche, J.; Projer, G.; Shparyk, Y.; Commarmot, B., 2019: Stand inventory data from the 10‐ha forest research plot in Uholka: 15 yr of primeval beech forest development. Ecology, 100, 11: e02845 (1 pp.). doi: 10.1002/ecy.2845

Stiers, M.; Willim, K.; Seidel, D.; Ammer, C.; Kabal, M.; Stillhard, J.; Annighöfer, P., 2019: Analyzing spatial distribution patterns of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) regeneration in dependence of Canopy Openings. Forests, 10, 8: 637 (20 pp.). doi: 10.3390/f10080637

Vitasse, Y.; Bottero, A.; Rebetez, M.; Conedera, M.; Augustin, S.; Brang, P.; Tinner, W., 2019: What is the potential of silver fir to thrive under warmer and drier climate?. European Journal of Forest Research, 138, 4: 547-560. doi: 10.1007/s10342-019-01192-4

Ginzler, C.; Price, B.; Bösch, R.; Fischer, C.; Hobi, M.L.; Psomas, A.; Rehush, N.; Wang, Z.; Waser, L.T., 2019: Area-wide products. In: Traub, B. (eds), 2019: Swiss National Forest Inventory – Methods and models of the fourth assessment. Cham, Springer. 125-142. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-19293-8_7

20 from 466 publications

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Staff

Stand Dynamics and Silviculture

Dr. Martina Hobi	teamleader
Dr. Peter Brang	senior scientist
Luca Bronzini	temporary employee
Brigitte Commarmot	visiting scientist
Dr. David Ian Forrester	scientific staff member
Romeo Gambarara	civil service employee
Jokin Idoate Lacasia	PhD student
Sabrina Sarah Keller	temporary employee
Henna-Riikka Kettunen	technical staff member
Dr. Andrea D. Kupferschmid	scientific staff member
Dr. Amanda Mathys	Postdoc
Daria Moser	temporary employee
Dr. Petia Simeonova Nikolova	scientific staff member
Jens Nitzsche	technical staff member
Roksolana Petrovska	PhD student
Gilbert Projer	technical staff member
Marcel Schelbert	temporary employee
Hubert Schmid	technical staff member
Jonas Stillhard	technical staff member
Dr. Kathrin Streit	scientific staff member
Zeljka Vulovic	technical staff member
Matthias Wüthrich	technical staff member

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