From Bare Ground to Close-to-Nature Forest

The question is what Addit Skov is helping to answer in the coming years. The plan is to use the experiences from this to write a manual for the establishment of conifer-dominated forests based on the principles of close-to-nature forestry.

>> What is close-to-natrue forestry?

In the spring of 2022, the first plants were put in the ground, and now 5.4 hectares have been planted in six different mixtures with 3-4 different conifer species in each mixture. This is intended to provide insights into whether forests can be established and cultivated based on entirely different and more sustainable principles than the monoculture that has dominated conifer cultivation so far.

We visited Forester Niels Peter Dalsgaard Jensen from Salten Langsø Skovadministration A/S (SLS A/S), who has established the forest for Addit Forest ApS., and asked about the initial experiences.

What Are the Challenges With Agricultural Land?

Agricultural land is typically well-fertilized and therefore more nutrient-rich than forest soil, which affects how tree species grow in relation to each other. We know that shade-tolerant species are robust in established forest climates, but how do they handle the challenges on bare ground? Can shade-tolerant species like spruce, grand fir, and Douglas fir withstand exposure to sunlight, late frost, and wind damage? This is something that Niels Peter Dalsgaard is eager to see in the attempt to establish the forest according to nature-based principles.

Pioneer Project

Support for afforestation has so far only included forests with deciduous trees. With the increasing focus on climate-resistant forests and the production of wood for the construction industry, there will quickly be a need for afforestation primarily with coniferous trees. The afforestation at Addit Forest is thus a pioneering project in establishing forests cultivated according to nature-based principles. Along with two other afforestations at HedeDanmark and Skovdyrkerne, LIFE 4Forest is gathering experiences from a total of 85 hectares of afforestation.

The First Experiences Are Promising

When he looks at the forest now, the experiences are good. One concern is that the shade trees dry out when they are not in an established forest climate. Despite a longer period of drought, it does not appear that the shade trees are affected by dehydration. In the fall, the area will be systematically reviewed for dead trees, and new plants will be added. The next challenge is dehydration due to winter frost in the coming winters.

The Challenge of Deer Wildlife Removed With a Fence

The deer's preference for biting young plants is initially prevented by fencing the area.

"We want to show the potential of establishing natural forest without ungulates, that's why we've fenced it," says Niels Peter Dalsgaard. "We will remove the fence when the deciduous belt around the coniferous forest is established, and the vegetation has reached a size where the biggest risks of ungulate damage are gone," he continues.

>> Ungulate management is one of the actions i LIFE 4forest

Why Is Reforestation Close-To-Nature?

SLS A/S joined LIFE 4forest to contribute to knowledge about how natural principles and the utilization of the forest's multifunctionality can contribute to more sustainable forest management.

Natural forest management with coniferous forest is new to many private forest growers, and Niels Peter Dalsgaard acknowledges that establishing coniferous mixtures with shade tree species on bare ground is not without risk.

"We have 30 years of experience in establishing mixed cultures with natural management in mind and thus knowledge of, for example, growth relationships and mixing patterns, but our knowledge is from established forests on poor soil with low pH. If we are to find new models for afforestation, we have to experiment, as we do here. Climate change calls for new forest management forms where we utilize the forest's multifunctionality. The forest should not only produce sustainable building materials but also biodiversity, biomass, CO2 sequestration, groundwater, etc.

"One of the keys to development is the professional knowledge that research and forest growers build through experiments like this. Personally, I couldn't dream of going back to cultivating the monoculture we practiced until the early 1990s, and I'm excited to see if we can succeed in establishing a forest in a natural way. Namely, one that is profitable for the forest owner and to the maximum benefit of the climate."

"My hope is that in about 15 years we can see if we succeed in establishing a new forest climate with the coniferous mix that is the goal. The goal is, of course, also for the forest system to sustain itself from there. The worst-case scenario is that the mixtures end up in monoculture because helper species and others do not survive the establishment. Time will tell."

If You Want to Get Started Already

Niels Peter Dalsgaard's advice to the forest owner who wants to try reforesting coniferous forests naturally right now is to prepare well. In short, it means:

• Decide on the main tree species
• Find helper species accordingly
• Choose intermixing tree species - light tree species and shade tree species
• Choose species that can fulfill goals other than timber production
• Choose tree species based on local experiences.

SLS A/S already believes so much in the project that there are plans to reforest an additional 100 hectares naturally.

The forest is established on 5.4 hectares of agricultural land in the 6 parcels marked in green.

Written by Janne Bavnhøj.