Database

Preserve wood in different decay stages during clear-cutting

Habitat	Function	Type of work
Forest	Living environment	Clear-cutting

In order to maintain biodiversity and ensure ecological coherence, forest management shall maintain the structural elements of habitats (e.g. trees from the previous felling period, old-growth trees and stumps, flatwoods, hardwoods, hollow trees, trees with burn marks, shrub species and species of trees that are not very common in the forest), also taking into account their potential impact on forest health, timber quality, ecosystem condition and human safety.

Description of the action

Preserve dead wood in various stages of decomposition (standing dead trees and stumps, fallen wood, decayed wood, stumps), as well as root plates from storm damage. If possible, avoid significantly moving fallen and decayed wood during logging.

Why?

Many species rely on dying and dead wood for survival. It is estimated that up to a quarter of forest biodiversity is associated with dead wood. Most of these are wood-decomposing species, which are essential in nature—otherwise, dead trees would accumulate in layers. Hollow-nesting birds and other animal species also use such trees.