Forests of mountainous regions: gaps in knowledge and research needs

This paper reviews the ecological characteristics and current management an d utilisation of European mountain forests, and identifies areas in which r esearch is needed in order to successfully manage forests for future societ al needs. European mountain forests are important sources of timber and have been mod ified for centuries. Mountain forest management and forest utilisation diff er from management schemes elsewhere mainly with respect to the temporal se quences of vegetative succession, the remoteness of the forests and their l imited accessibility. As a result of generally short growing seasons and of ten high ungulate densities, there are major problems with regeneration. In this context, the following questions need special attention: (1) How can forests be managed in the face of uncertainty? (2) Which key elements and p rocesses of mountain forest ecosystems need to be integrated into an ecosys tem-based management? (3) Which silvicultural strategies, in terms of harve sting and regeneration, are required to maintain or enhance ecosystem stabi lity and biodiversity? (4) How can ungulates be managed to allow sufficient regeneration in mountain forest ecosystems? Observational studies and moni toring activities combined with experimental studies can help to assess and understand cause-effect relationships of the major processes and feedbacks in mountain forest ecosystems. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.