Growth response to silvicultural tending of red and silver beech regeneration.

Authors: G. Baker, U. Benecke
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2001, Issue N.Z.J.For. 46(3) 2001, pp 30-32, Nov 2001
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

Abstract: Some long-term silvicultural trials in naturally regenerated beech in Westland (red beech, Nothofagus fusca) and Southland (silver beech, N. menziesii) have shown considerable promise of enhanced diameter growth in response to periodic thinning. Three decades after commencing thinning of beech forest regeneration the mean tree diameter of plots thinned heavily to 150 stems per hectare was twice the diameter of unthinned controls for both red and silver beech. The positive implications of such a response for timber production prospects from natural beech forest, when under intensive management by continuous-cover systems that maintain near-natural stand structure and composition, are tentatively discussed.