<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The protection of late-succession forest habitats and continuous woodlands
is the primary goal in Estonian forest nature conservation. Therefore ecological
qualities of almost all forest stands in Estonian protected areas are described. Forest
patches will be mapped and protected as Annex I forest habitats if they have enough
structural and functional qualities. The member states of the European Union report
in every six years about the conservation status of European Habitats Directive Annex
I habitats. Changes in area as well as changes in habitat type’s structure and
functions are also declared. In the present paper the dynamics in tree species composition,
stand age and larger diameter trees of monitored Annex I forest habitats
is analyzed. The mean age of stands is older than the Estonian mean value, but it
is only slightly higher than the cutting age of the corresponding tree species. The
mean diameter of larger living trees is in general larger than dead wood, which
is indicative of the forest succession and historical low-intensive forest management.
Currently, conservation activities support natural succession in forests that
formerly were managed economically. Therefore, changes in the composition of
tree layer species are to be expected. The dominance of spruce and the abundance
of broad-leaved trees are increasing in non-managed forest habitats. In contrast, the
proportion of pine, birch and aspen decreases significantly. In general the number
of tree species in habitat patches will increase; thereby the dominance of certain
species will decline. According to the Estonian interpretation of the forest types in
the Manual of the Habitats Directive, some stands with changed main tree species
will need to be reclassified. Therefore the area of some forest habitat types may
increase in the future. On contrary the area and functional quality of some other
habitat types may decrease.</p></abstract>

The protection of late-succession forest habitats and continuous woodlands
is the primary goal in Estonian forest nature conservation. Therefore ecological
qualities of almost all forest stands in Estonian protected areas are described. Forest
patches will be mapped and protected as Annex I forest habitats if they have enough
structural and functional qualities. The member states of the European Union report
in every six years about the conservation status of European Habitats Directive Annex
I habitats. Changes in area as well as changes in habitat type’s structure and
functions are also declared. In the present paper the dynamics in tree species composition,
stand age and larger diameter trees of monitored Annex I forest habitats
is analyzed. The mean age of stands is older than the Estonian mean value, but it
is only slightly higher than the cutting age of the corresponding tree species. The
mean diameter of larger living trees is in general larger than dead wood, which
is indicative of the forest succession and historical low-intensive forest management.
Currently, conservation activities support natural succession in forests that
formerly were managed economically. Therefore, changes in the composition of
tree layer species are to be expected. The dominance of spruce and the abundance
of broad-leaved trees are increasing in non-managed forest habitats. In contrast, the
proportion of pine, birch and aspen decreases significantly. In general the number
of tree species in habitat patches will increase; thereby the dominance of certain
species will decline. According to the Estonian interpretation of the forest types in
the Manual of the Habitats Directive, some stands with changed main tree species
will need to be reclassified. Therefore the area of some forest habitat types may
increase in the future. On contrary the area and functional quality of some other
habitat types may decrease.

Dynamics of tree layer composition, tree age and large
diameter trees in Habitats Directive Annex I forest
habitats in Estonia on the basis of monitoring data
collected from 2010–2012

Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu,
46 Vanemuise St., Tartu 51014, Estonia

Institute of Mathematical Statistics, University
of Tartu, 2 Juhan Liivi St., Tartu 50409, Estonia

Forestry Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The protection of late-succession forest habitats and continuous woodlands
is the primary goal in Estonian forest nature conservation. Therefore...

Dynamics of tree layer composition, tree age and large diameter trees in Habitats Directive Annex I forest habitats in Estonia on the basis of monitoring data collected from 2010–2012

Published Online: Sep 19, 2014

Page range: 57 - 73

Received: Jan 13, 2014

Accepted: Apr 28, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2013-0006

Keywords
Habitats Directive Annex I, forest habitat types, monitoring, succession

© 2014

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Dynamics of tree layer composition, tree age and large diameter trees in Habitats Directive Annex I forest habitats in Estonia on the basis of monitoring data collected from 2010–2012

Published Online: Sep 19, 2014

Page range: 57 - 73

Received: Jan 13, 2014

Accepted: Apr 28, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fsmu-2013-0006

KeywordsHabitats Directive Annex I, forest habitat types, monitoring, succession

© 2014

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Habitats Directive Annex I, forest habitat types, monitoring, succession