European Union's Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021–2027, Activity 1.1.1.9 "Post-doctoral Research" of the Specific Objective 1.1.1 "Strengthening research and innovative capacities and introduction of advanced technologies in the common R&D system" of the research application No 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/035
The forests of Northern Europe experience the intensification of natural disturbances, among which wind is the major cause of damage to growing stock. To moderate such environmental risks, a comprehensive assessment of forest susceptibility to wind damages is necessary. For this purpose, the mechanistic forest wind damage risk model ForestGALES, which has become the leading decision support system of its kind during recent years, can be applied. To ensure higher regional-scale comparability in wind damage risk modeling, a model species with a wider natural distribution range should be selected, such as Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.).
In the Eastern Baltic region, Scots pine is widespread also in both urban and peri-urban areas, where the consequences of wind damage can be explicitly severe. In such areas, the application of uneven-aged stand management practices becomes more frequent due to increasing social demand for sustaining biodiversity and human wellbeing. The concept of closer-to-nature forestry (according to EU guidelines) and the EU Nature Restoration Law favours the application of uneven-aged harvests (shelterwood, selective logging) for Scots pine stands.
However, Scots pine stands subjected to uneven-aged management through selective logging, which is the initial stage of transitioning mature stands to uneven-aged management, may face additional challenges in maintaining wind resistance due to the disruption of collective stability that develops over time. Particularly if wider canopy openings need to be created to ensure the regeneration of forest stands with light-demanding species. For example, Scots pine, which has been chosen as the model species of the study, still holds crucial socio-economic and ecological importance in the eastern part of the Baltic Sea region.
The aim of Study is to create a solution to reduce the wind damage risk in uneven-aged management of Scots pine stands in the Eastern Baltic region.
Study objectives:
- Assess the informativeness and comparability of destructive static tree-pulling tests on full-height and de-topped trees, using Scots pine as model species, and develop a standardised static tree-pulling test protocol;
- Assess the resistance of Scots pine to primary failure from dynamic wind loading tests and develop a basis for technology to detect primary failure;
- Characterise the wind resistance of Scots pine stands subjected to uneven-aged management (selective logging) in the Eastern Baltic region in terms of structural wood damages (primary failure) and fatal failure (secondary failure);
- Perform the regional parametrisation of the ForestGALES model for improved wind damage risk assessment for Scots pine stands subjected to uneven-aged management (selective logging) in the Eastern Baltic region.