Articles

Concepts of forest stability and forest management

Author
  • M. Van Miegroet

Abstract

To  realize its most important task, the perpetuation of forest use by the  stabilization of the forest itself, forest management must have sound  ecological foundations. A steady-state equilibrium in species composition,  resulting from unidirectional succession, is not acceptable as a parameter  for the stability of the forest ecosystem. Its concept is based on the  prevalence of internal control, whereas the frequency of minor and major  disturbances, as well as the importance of chronic external influences  characterize the forest as a relatively open system. With better results, the  stability of a forest can be measured by its resistance to internal and  external stress, its degree of resilience and the community control over  energy-flow, hydrology and nutrients. Forest management is aware that forest  stability is not a permanent state. Therefore silvicultural treatment must  control the dynamics of change within limits, set by the physical environment  and the biotic components of the forest. Each intervention is to be seen as a  purposefully induced and willfully directed perturbation to stimulate and  optimalize the internal mechanisms of selfregulation.

How to Cite:

Van Miegroet, M., (1984) “Concepts of forest stability and forest management”, Silva Gandavensis 50. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sg.v50i0.962

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Published on
04 Nov 1984
Peer Reviewed
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