Selection cutting

A selection forest is a working in Plenterbetrieb Hochwald. He is a continuously tapering continuous forest in which trees of all dimensions (not ages! ) Are the smallest surface mixed up as single stem. In Plenterbetrieb individual trees are cut down, thus creating a permanent high forest. Despite the supposedly primeval character of the selection forest is a working forest.

History

Whether the expression Plenter from Plunder ( worthless stuff ) or plenere from the Latin root word ( = fully make it produce ) comes from, is unclear. The designation of the term probably derives from Plünderwald from, the the Middle Ages and in modern times as privates Mark ( common land) shared Bauernwald. Such forests were used unregulated, since each impact mature trees could make single tree instance. With increasing intensity of use, such as wood shortage during the Middle Ages and modern times, this led to overuse Plünderwald - an early partially synonymous with Plenterwald used term. Until the 19th century selection forests were mostly not used controlled. From 1827 to the end of the 19th century Plenterung was therefore banned in many parts of France and Germany.

Management

Plenterung in the true sense is a management of semi Shatt Shatt and tree species, usually spruce, beech and silver fir. It is usually dependent on the occurrence of white pine. The silver fir and beech, it is possible due to their specific shade tolerance and growth dynamics to persist for decades in the dugout and grow after exemption still a prevailing tree.

The sustainability of timber use a forestry operation is achieved in the selection forest by the uniform regrowth of trees on a small parcel. The right Plenterung requires the technical assessment of each individual tree after a certain age. In contrast, the demographic sustainability of forest age class is only guaranteed over larger areas when parcels containing trees grow all ages.

The sustainability of the selection forest is measured by the ratio of root number to diameter distribution at the Plenter or equilibrium curve. It is approximately an exponentially decaying curve of a high number of thin trees to a small number of thick trees. Establishing such a balance of a single- component requires where it is at all possible, a targeted forestry activities over several generations.

Distribution and claims

A Plenterbetrieb there is therefore most likely to occur where the ecological requirements of European beech ( deciduous forests ), and the overlap of silver fir ( beech-fir forests and beech - fir (spruce ) ), or the European beech is already limited. Geographically, this corresponds to the region of Thuringia in the north to the south in the foothills of the Alps, and from the Vosges mountains in the west to the east. Within this space more or less beech or spruce rich ( Fagion ) would most likely according to Ellenberg (1996 ) Book - white fir forests or White fir-spruce forests thrive on the following sites:

• Planar to montane base -rich soils in the sub-continental climate,
• To precipitation-rich clay ( calcareous ) soils in the montane and subalpine areas, or
• On waterlogged soils in high rainfall submontane and mining environment.

In Germany selection forests are found in Bauer forests in the Black Forest, in the Allgäu and the Bavarian Forest. In the area of ​​Nordwestthüringischen edge panels, which are mainly the mountain ranges Hainich and fertilizer, you will find the special form of pure Buchenplenterwäldern. In Switzerland, selection forests are widespread. Especially in the Jura and Emmental is geplentert here with spruce and white fir. Moreover geplentert also in the French Jura, in Austria and Slovenia.

Ecology

The distinction between natural pine forests or book rich mixed forests, where the pine was favored by Plenterung, is difficult. The differences Plenterphase a primeval forest are not always obvious at first glance. It can not also be assessed whether the selection forest generally corresponds to the potentially natural ( PNV ) forest community of the site.

Even the very small intervention Plenterbetriebes, ie the cases of selected individual strains can significantly affect the species composition of the tree layer. The Plenterbetrieb favors the silver fir (Abies alba) in relation to the European beech (Fagus sylvatica) (H. Ellenberg 1996).

Through these interventions produced a significantly differentiated vertical structure. The understory is vital and potentially corresponds to the Plenterphase a primeval forest. However, dead wood is largely absent, since the trees are taken mostly from old age before their biological. In the horizontal structure of selection forest, however, is poorer and more uniform than a jungle, since areas with marked rejuvenating and decay phases are missing.

The artificially held high forest condition contradicts depending on PNV more or less of the natural forest development. In areas that are naturally pure coniferous forests (spruce forest, pine forest ) would have as PNV, the age group of natural forest development may correspond rather than the ongoing Hochwald state of the selection forest. On the other side of the fir-beech selection forest is a permanent condition that is naturally most likely to find in beech rich mixed deciduous forests.

In forestry, the 18th and 19th century that tried to counteract with massive reforestation of the progressive devastation of central Europe, increasingly pure coniferous forests were planted and managed as forest age class on the eroded and depleted soils. In most locations but these coniferous forests do not meet the PNV and are rated as very natural. In some areas, such as marshes and waters have to they even classify as harmful.

The much rarer selection forests, however, have a significantly differentiated vertical structure. Selection forests have distinct floors, since vegetation of all heights of growth occurs. Since the 20th century, more and more forests are converted, as a mixed forest as a permanent Hochwald is less harmful prone than for example a spruce forest. This also promotes potentially the biodiversity of flora and fauna. The species composition of the forest is to be assessed as relatively closer to nature at Plenterbetrieb in most cases, but not as natural.