This case study is made on assignment of Södra, region Öst, as a part of a campaign
promoting more active management of the oak forests in the region.
Hardwood trees of good quality, especially oak, has a high value due to that the sawn
material is highly estimated by the market. It is important that the Swedish oak forests
are managed in a proper way in order to meet the future demand. Södra has therefore
decided to increase the focus on oak in the Kalmar region and they would like to find
out if continues cover forestry (CCF) under certain conditions can be an appropriate
management model. The motive is to make use of the existing oak forests more
efficient, not just considering well managed forests but also the more neglected oak
forests, on poorer soils. Thus, the objective for this study is to examine if CCF is
appropriate method in the three stand types; broadleaved mixtures oak forest, oak islet,
and oak/spruce forest.
Existing management models were surveyed in the literature. CCF-cuttings made by
Södra were also studied. After that three chosen management methods where applied
theoretically in field in three stands. 6-7 sample plots per hectare where out haphazard
in the stands. On the sample plots stand data where measured and the management
methods where simulated. The collected data from this simulation where put together
and afterwards used in the compassion and analysis.
Without the subsidies that the board of forestry gives to hardwood management CCF
where the best alternative, except from oak/spruce forest that had better growth. In this
stand the standard method gave slightly better results. When the same comparison but
with the subsidies that the board of forestry gives where made the standard method gave
the best result in all stands. The numbers of future stems where lower though than what
the standard method aim at, which can complicate for the met...
