Silvicultural prescriptions for mixed-species forest stands. A European review and perspective

Abstract Compared with far-developed measures and methods for mono-specific forest stands, the silvicultural prescriptions mixed-species stands are at their early beginning. However, they essential well-conceived establishment, design, control of currently promoted in many countries worldwide. Here, we review state art further develop steering experiments, stand modeling, silviculture. We which aspects tree species mixing most relevant management goal achievement. found maintenance diversity structural heterogeneity ecological purpose, stabilizing productivity, social-economic performance as main objectives. give an overview quantitatively formulated practice, long-term models. sophisticated guidelines mixed often mainly qualitative vague. Then, introduce methodological approaches development mixture: spatial temporal separation, species-specific growing space requirements crop trees, coefficients equivalence density modification, basic relationships number area-based proportions. Finally, draw conclusions implementation simulators, operations. see need improving quantitative spatially explicit rules based or cohort level, substantiating knowledge on allometry, area, tree-to-tree distances, position-dependent competition indices removal. discuss prospects limitations establishing that inevitably will be more complicated than those next steps science practice.