Even-Aged vs. Uneven-Aged Silviculture: Implications for Multifunctional Management of Southern Pine Ecosystems

We evaluated evenand uneven-aged silvicultural options for slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) using empirical data and the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) model. Data were collected from a mature unthinned slash pine plantation in a flatwoods site in Florida, and used to simulate six scenarios of evenand uneven-aged silvicultural regimes applied to slash pine stands, including a no-action option. These alternative silvicultural regimes were evaluated for multiple benefits including timber production, carbon storage and stand structural diversity over a period of 100 years. None of the silvicultural regimes maximized all the benefits. While even-aged management options were more efficient in total merchantable timber production (9.78 to 11.02 m3 ̈ha ́1 ̈year ́1) and overall carbon stocks (3.05 to 3.47 metric tons ̈ha ́1 ̈year ́1), uneven-aged management options created overall more complex stand structure (Stand Structural Diversity (computed from Shannon’s Indices values) = 1.92) and maintained a steady flow of yields, particularly sawtimber (34.29 to 58.46 m3 ̈ha ́1 every 10 year) and aboveground carbon stocks (56.9 to 77.2 metric tons ̈ha ́1). Optimal achievement of multiple benefits across the landscape, therefore, may require maintaining an assortment of management strategies. Both evenand uneven-aged management options have the potential to improve production and carbon storage of pine forests and are a substantial improvement over no action.