Lesson 1Mixed-species management: facilitation, species admixture planning, managing competitive interactionsThis section addresses mixed-species management, including facilitation processes, species admixture planning, spatial patterns, and tools to manage competitive interactions so that productivity, resilience, and risk distribution are optimised.
Functional traits and complementarity in mixturesDesigning species admixtures and proportionsSpatial patterns: intimate versus group mixturesManaging competition, shading, and root overlapRisk sharing and resilience in mixed standsLesson 2Overview of silvicultural systems: clearcut, shelterwood, selection, group selection, continuous cover, coppice and conversion systemsThis section overviews major silvicultural systems, including clearcut, shelterwood, selection, group selection, continuous cover, coppice, and conversion approaches, highlighting structures created, regeneration modes, and key applications.
Clearcut systems and main variantsShelterwood systems and regeneration phasesSelection and group selection systemsContinuous cover forestry concepts and toolsCoppice and coppice-with-standards conversionLesson 3Criteria for system selection: objectives, species ecology, site quality, topography, social constraints, legal protection zonesThis section presents criteria for selecting silvicultural systems, integrating management objectives, species ecology, site quality, topography, social expectations, and legal protection zones into transparent, defensible decision frameworks.
Clarifying production and conservation objectivesMatching species ecology with system choiceSite quality, climate, and topographic constraintsInfrastructure, access, and operational limitsLegal, social, and certification requirementsLesson 4Even-aged systems for pine plantations: rotation length, thinning regimes (intensity, timing), pruning, clearcut techniques with retentionThis section details even-aged silviculture for pine plantations, including rotation planning, thinning intensity and timing, pruning regimes, and clearcut techniques with retention that balance timber yield, stability, and ecological values.
Rotation length and endpoint stand conditionsDesigning thinning schedules and intensitiesCrown lifting and pruning for timber qualityClearcut operations with structural retentionRegeneration planning after final harvestLesson 5Uneven-aged systems for Quercus–Fagus stands: single-tree selection, group selection, target diameter distributions, recruitment dynamicsThis section examines uneven-aged systems in Quercus–Fagus stands, detailing single-tree and group selection, target diameter distributions, recruitment dynamics, and marking rules that maintain continuous cover, quality timber, and habitat diversity.
Stand structure and diameter distribution goalsSingle-tree selection marking guidelinesGroup selection size, layout, and frequencyRecruitment and ingrowth of regeneration cohortsControlling shade and competition in mixed canopiesLesson 6Natural regeneration vs planting: microsite preparation, seedbed requirements for pine, oak, beech, seedling establishment strategiesThis section compares natural regeneration and planting, focusing on microsite preparation, seedbed needs of pine, oak, and beech, and early seedling establishment strategies that improve survival, growth, and long-term stand stability.
Microsite preparation for natural regenerationSeedbed requirements for pine, oak, and beechDirect seeding versus planting of seedlingsStock type, quality, and handling of planting materialEarly tending to secure seedling establishmentLesson 7Assisted natural regeneration and enrichment planting in protection/riparian standsThis section covers assisted natural regeneration and enrichment planting in protection and riparian stands, emphasising site assessment, protection of advance growth, species choice, spacing, and tending to reinforce ecological functions and stability.
Site diagnosis in protection and riparian forestsProtecting and releasing advance regenerationDesigning enrichment strips, gaps, and clustersSpecies and provenance choice for enrichmentTending enriched cohorts and monitoring successLesson 8Retention forestry and structural complexity: biological legacies, habitat trees, and deadwood managementThis section explores retention forestry and structural complexity, focusing on biological legacies, habitat trees, and deadwood management to sustain biodiversity, ecological processes, and structural continuity after harvesting.
Principles and goals of retention forestryIdentifying and retaining habitat treesPlanning spatial patterns of retention patchesDeadwood quantity, quality, and distributionMonitoring structural indicators over time
