Long Term Demonstration Plots

Repetition, continuation, transfer, utilization

This action is divided into three sub-actions:   

• 6.1 Long-term experiment plots, approximately 30 in DK and DE Forestry has a very long time horizon and rotation period, also known as the rotation cycle. The time from planting a forest stand to its harvest in traditional clear-cut systems, for trees, is typically between 60 and 100 years. Knowledge about timber production in a full rotation cycle is a necessary decision-making tool. The uncertainty about the consequences of close-to-nature forestry versus traditional forestry is largely due to the lack of long-term data. By establishing 30 long-term experimental plots in the LIFE ForFit project, a long-term collection of precisely these data is initiated.
• 6.2 Repetition and transfer to other areas All knowledge about close-to-nature forestry accumulated during the project will be incorporated into a series of reports. In addition, a plan will be developed on how this knowledge can be disseminated to forestry outside the project and to other sectors.
• 6.3 Subsidy programs for close-to-nature forestry/afforestation Subsidies for forestry and afforestation in Denmark have so far primarily been granted for afforestation with deciduous species. With a higher CO2 binding in coniferous trees than in deciduous trees, an increasing need for afforestation of new forests dominated by coniferous trees is expected. Therefore, there will be a need for the current support scheme to be supplemented with close-to-nature methods for afforestation of coniferous-dominated forests.

The project will lay the groundwork for a revision of the current support scheme.