A DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE EXPLOITATION AND TRANSFORMATION OF A BOREAL FOREST STAND

The history of a pine dominated (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest stand in northern Sweden was documented by applying dendrochronological crossdating technique on stumps, down logs and living trees within a small (0.1 ha) sample plot. The forest stand was exploited for the first time in the early 19th century. At that time it was an old-growth pine forest. Prior to the exploitation the forest was subjected to forest fires at regular intervals of 40-50 years. During the 19th century the large diameter pines were logged and a new stand was naturally regenerated following a forest fire towards the end of the century. In the 20th century, active forest management was introduced and the naturally regenerated stand has been subjected to thinnings and fertilizations, the result being an ordinary pine forest due for clearcutting within the next 10-20 years. The results suggest that the dendrochronological method used provides an important tool for detailed description of the natural history and the exploitation history of a boreal forest. The quality and availability of stumps are crucial factors as well as a general knowledge of the local forest history.