Coppice abandonment and its implications for species diversity in forest vegetation

0444524 - BÚ 2016 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Müllerová, Jana - Hédl, Radim - Szabó, Péter
Coppice abandonment and its implications for species diversity in forest vegetation.
Forest Ecology and Management. Roč. 343, May 1 (2015), s. 88-100. ISSN 0378-1127. E-ISSN 1872-7042
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) EE2.3.20.0267
EU Projects: European Commission(XE) 278065 - LONGWOOD
Institutional support: RVO:67985939
Keywords : conversation * forest management * history
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics
Impact factor: 2.826, year: 2015

The impact of coppice abandonment on vegetation composition and on the conservation value of forests was evaluated. Dominant tree species appeared to be very stable throughout the past four centuries, but changes occurred in their proportions. A shift from species rich oak–hornbeam woodland towards species poorer communities with increasing proportions of lime, ash and maple was observed after the abandonment of coppicing. The observed tendencies partly differed according to site and data source. The conservation value of forests was measured as the occurrence of red-list species, which were considerably reduced after coppice abandonment. To stop the process of biodiversity loss and support the goals of nature conservation, the re-establishment of coppice management is proposed.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0247039