Effects of silvicultural cleaning in mixed pine-deciduous stands on moose damage to Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

Silvicultural cleaning is commonly carried out in young stands to control c ompetition between conifers and deciduous tree species. However, it has bee n questioned whether this practice affects moose (Alces alces L.) browsing on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with respect to damage at the stand lev el. In this study, moose winter browsing was examined in relation to food a vailability in 19 Scots pine stands divided into silviculturally cleaned an d non-cleaned blocks. Cleaning had a negative effect on moose foraging in t erms of reduced density, biomass availability, and height of the deciduous tree species. The total biomass consumed by moose was significantly lower o n the cleaned blocks than on the non-cleaned ones. There were no difference s between the treatments in the amounts of pine consumed and in moose damag e to pines. The density or biomass available of different deciduous tree sp ecies did not explain the variation in moose browsing on pine. In conclusio n, timing of silvicultural cleaning with reference to moose browsing should be taken into account. If pines are not overtopped by deciduous trees, as in the present study, silvicultural cleaning is not necessary to prevent mo ose damage.