The best pioneer trees for future replacement

The best pioneer trees for future replacement

DREVO Living Mountains Transitional Model

Pioneer trees— is the first temporary tree layer created in open, eroded, overheated, waterlogged or otherwise degraded areas.

Their tasks:

quickly close the soil;

reduce overheating and dehydration;

weaken the wind;

to retain snow and precipitation;

start the accumulation of fallen leaves;

form root canals;

attract birds, insects and soil biota;

prepare a microclimate for oak, beech, linden, elm, maple, fir and other durable species;

to produce early wood, chips or biomass.

The pioneer layer is created not instead of a future forest, but for the future forest.

1. Best all-round temperate pioneers

Birch is considered a sun-loving pioneer tree with rapid early growth, capable of colonizing a wide range of poor and average mineral soils. Alder, birch, and willow are traditionally used as pioneer and protective crops in the restoration of disturbed lands.

2. The best pioneers according to site conditions

Dry, poor soils

Wet and marshy places

Floodplains and river sediments

Poplars are typical early successional trees of river valleys and fresh alluvial deposits; some species were widely used in protective and windbreak plantations.

Mountain and cool slopes

Fires and major violations

3. The best soil-improving pioneers

Nitrogen-fixing

Alder is particularly valuable because it can quickly occupy disturbed, damp areas, improve soil conditions, and allow other tree species to develop under its canopy. Birch, poplar, and conifers eventually appear in young alder-willow communities.

Non-nitrogen fixing but site improving

birch;

aspen;

willow;

poplar;

rowan;

bird cherry;

the view;

Pavlovian.

They improve the site primarily by:

decreases;

shadows;

root canals;

dust capture;

retention of organic matter;

surface protection.

4. Best Nursery Trees

The nanny tree must givenot too dense shadow, grow quickly and tolerate subsequent thinning.

Pioneer patches can improve conditions for late-successional species by promoting seed dispersal and establishment of slower-successing trees.

5. Pioneers that can be left forever

Not every pioneer needs to be completely removed.

Stored as a permanent element

part of the alder near the water;

old willows by the rivers;

rowan;

wild fruits;

individual veteran birches;

aspen trees with hollows;

local poplars;

the best honey locusts in farm and pasture systems;

trees with nests and hollows;

trees important for rare insects and fungi.

Retained share

It is usually advisable to leave:

10–30% of the original pioneer stage;

more - along the banks and in mosaic forests;

less - in industrial and structural plantings.

6. Pioneers requiring strict control

These trees are only allowed where:

their regional legal status is known;

there is a planting map;

annual control is possible;

spreading into natural areas is excluded;

A plan for complete removal is provided.

7. The most practical ten DREVO

For Central and Eastern Europe

Black alder- wetlands and floodplains.

Silver birch- dry and fresh poor soils.

Downy birch- wet and peaty soils.

Goat willow- clearings, forest edges and disturbed areas.

Native tree willows- banks and hollows.

Aspen- major violations and fires.

Local poplars— river valleys.

Gray alder- mountain valleys and cool slopes.

Rowan- forest edges, mountains and feeding corridors.

Cherry tree- wet undergrowth and floodplains.

Additional economic pioneers

the view;

paulownia;

slave;

to look at;

sucker;

they have become sea buckthorn;

fast-growing production poplars.

They should not replace the basic system of local pioneers.

8. Landing pattern

A pioneer forest should not be created as a continuous, uniform grid.

Recommended mosaic

The percentages overlap across tiers and are not a strict sum of seating capacity.

9. When to introduce target breeds

Target breeds don't have to wait 20 years.

Option 1 - simultaneous landing

Suitable if:

regular maintenance is possible;

there is water;

you can protect slow-growing seedlings;

The area is not too extreme.

The following are disembarking at the same time:

pioneers;

oak;

linden;

elm;

maple;

beech;

fir;

walnut;

chestnut.

Option 2 - Delayed landing

Used on extremely heavy soils.

10. How to replace the pioneer tier

The replacement should not be a one-time clear-cut.

The correct order

Determine the viability of target species.

Select pioneer veteran trees.

Remove diseased and interfering specimens.

Create small windows of light.

Plant durable species.

After a few years, expand the windows.

Use pioneer wood.

Leave some of the trunks as dead wood.

Maintain canopy over sensitive young trees.

Repeat the process in small sections.

11. Optimal harvesting times

The dates are design ranges and not guaranteed felling ages.

12. Use of wood

13. Passport of the pioneer site

Each site receives:

DREVO Pioneer Forest Passport

initial state of the earth;

natural regeneration;

types and origin of seedlings;

planting density;

soil condition;

organic matter content;

erosion;

humidity;

tree growth;

proportion of target breeds;

invasive species map;

thinning history;

volume of harvested timber;

number of veteran trees left;

transition to the next stage of the forest.

14. Criteria for a successful pioneer forest

A pioneer system is successful if:

the soil surface is protected;

erosion has noticeably decreased;

the content of organic matter increased;

natural forest litter appeared;

natural regeneration has increased;

long-lived species develop under the canopy;

birds, mushrooms and insects are returning;

no uncontrolled spread;

the pioneer layer can be gradually removed without losing the forest microclimate;

The area is transformed into a mixed-age forest.

15. Final selection table

The main principle

The best pioneer is the one who first enters the ruined land and then gives way to a more durable and diverse forest.

For most temperate areas, the basis for pioneer restoration should be:

birch;

alder;

local willows;

aspen;

local poplars;

rowan;

bird cherry.

Paulownia and honey locust can complement this system in controlled management areas, but should not become a universal replacement for native species.