Database

During selective cutting, create mixed forests

Habitat	Function	Type of work
Forest	High-quality timber	Pre-commercial thinning

Forests need to be renewed and managed in ways that ensure their long-term sustainability and productivity, as well as rapid carbon sequestration and high quality timber.

Description of the action

Based on the soil (habitat type) and target tree species, preferably create a multi-species forest (mixed stand), especially on fertile soils (broadleaf forest, deciduous forest, decayed peat forest). When aiming for a mixed forest of coniferous and deciduous trees, after the last thinning, fast-growing deciduous trees should be 1/3 lower than pines and spruces. Deciduous trees will soon catch up in height to conifers, forming a mixed forest.

Why?

Mixed stands are more diverse, though not always more productive or the best at carbon sequestration. However, species diversity reduces the risk of a single species’ disease affecting the entire stand.