Natural regeneration of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra subsp laricio) in GreatBritain

Factors affecting the natural regeneration of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra su bsp. laricio (Poir.) Maire) are reviewed and, based on this, a preliminary set of guidelines is offered. Satisfactory natural regeneration of Corsican pine is generally more difficult to achieve compared with that of Scots pi ne (Pinus sylvestris L.). However, it is possible if a patient approach is adopted. Good seed years occur every 3-5 years and it is important to initi ate operations which will take advantage of these 'mast' years. The main ai m should be to produce > 5000 seedlings ha(-1) of advance regeneration at l east 50 cm tall before commencing fellings. This bank of advance regenerati on can be developed by: (1) increasing seed supply (e.g. by including conin g as a selection criteria when thinning and using rotations in excess of 70 years); (2) preparing a seedbed before seed fall by disturbing organic mat ter on the soil surface and controlling vegetation; and (3) protecting the seedlings from browsing mammals.