Feasibility of silviculture for complex stand structures: designing stand structures for sustainability and multiple objectives

摘要

The concepts of ‘from homogeneity to heterogeneity’, ‘from simplicity to complexity’, and ‘from an agricultural system to a natural disturbance-based system’ are widely recognized in alternative silviculture. Stand structure is closely related to microclimate, cycling of materials, quality and quantity of wildlife habitat, and other ecological functions. Therefore, stand structure determines the sustainability and resilience of forest ecosystems. Most forest services, such as timber production, wildlife conservation, maintenance of aesthetics, and hydrological values, are stand structure dependent. These services are influenced by the manipulation of stand structure.