Amount, structure, and dynamics of dead wood on managed forestland in Sweden

Dead wood is an important component of diversity in forest ecosystems. Sinc e 1994, a nation-wide inventory for estimating the amount, structure, and d ynamics of dead wood (DW), i.e. snags and logs greater than or equal to 10 cm, has been conducted In Sweden. Based on data from 1994, 1995, and 1996, the average volume of DW on managed productive forestland in Sweden was est imated to be 6.1 m(3)/ha. The amount and structure of DW vary depending on geographical location, stand age, and forest type. The highest average volu mes were found in spruce forests in northern Sweden (12.8 m(3)/ha). Of the total DW-volume, 73% consisted of logs and 27% of snags. The results show t hat forest management affects the amount of DW, i.e. clear-cut and thinning appear to reduce the amount of DW. The average annual production of DW was estimated to be 0.18 m(3)/ha. The study clarifies that a DW-inventory integrated within a national forest inventory is a usable tool for monitoring the amount, structure, and dynam ics of DW. The results obtained are important for governmental authorities, forest companies, and NGOs, in their work towards environmental policies a nd objectives. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.