Coppiced forest, what is it and why should you care?
Coppiced forests represent one of the oldest and historically most widespread forms of use of deciduous forests in Central and Northwestern Europe (Hédl et al., 2017; Šrámek et al., 2020; Unrau et al., 2018). It is a system with a short-term rotation of logging elements, thanks to which a dynamic mosaic of light and dark phases of the stand, is formed (Kirby et al., 2017). In the long term, this method of forest management impacts not only the species composition and richness of the herbaceous layer but also on soil chemistry and nutrient supply (Hédl et al., 2017). In the last century, however, traditional ways of management began to be abandoned. Coppiced and coppiced with standards forests were replaced by high forests with permanently higher shade, which had a negative impact on the biodiversity of the herbaceous layer and caused the accumulation of nutrients in the soil (Maděra et al., 2017; Hédl et al., 2010; Roleček et al., 2017).
Coppiced, and especially coppiced with standards forests provide a diverse range of ecological niches for a whole range of organisms (Hédl et al., 2010; Maděra et al., 2017; Roleček et al., 2017). Many of today’s species-rich forests with high conservation value were coppiced in the past (Hédl et al., 2017). However, coppiced and coppiced with standards forests are not biodiversity hotspots only for light-demanding plant species, they also play an important role for other groups of organisms such as spiders (Vymazalová et al., 2021), butterflies (Dolek et al., 2018; Konvička et al., 2008), xylophagous species of beetles (Vodka et al., 2009) and other invertebrate organisms (Spitzer et al., 2008).
The combination of the positive effects of coppiced forests on biodiversity and the growing demand for wood-based fuels may contribute to the renaissance of traditional forms of forest management in the future (Vild et al., 2013). Additionally, with continued climate change resulting in more severe and frequent droughts, forest management practices will need to be adjusted. In this case, coppice forests may represent an alternative to high forests (Stojanović et al., 2017). Although coppice forests are currently attractive for researchers and there is a high amount of papers published, these are mainly partial studies or partial syntheses. In addition, this issue lacks applicability in practice. The proposed research is intentionally designed to be an example of good practices that can be implemented in active forest management.
The results of this research will broaden the knowledge about the ecology of coppiced and coppiced with standards forests. Coppiced forests represent a promising method of management suitable especially for protected land areas, which could support the occurrence of rare plant species while maintaining active forest management. Understanding the basic principles is an essential part of the appropriate application both in nature conservation and cultivation practice and increasing the attractiveness of this economic system for forest owners. In addition, coppice forests represent a promising adaptation strategy for mitigating the effects of the climate crisis, specifically climate fluctuations with dry periods.
Dolek, M., Kőrösi Á., Freese-Hager A. (2018): Successful maintenance of Lepidoptera by government-funded management of coppiced forests. Journal for Nature Conservation 43: 75–84.
Hédl R., Kopecký M., Komárek J. (2010): Half a century of succession in a temperate oakwood: from species-rich community to mesic forest. Diversity and Distributions 16: 267–276.
Hédl, R., Ewald, J., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Kirby K. (2017): Coppicing systems as a way of understanding patterns in forest vegetation. Folia Geobotanica 52: 1–3.
Kirby K. J., Buckley G. P., Mills J. (2017): Biodiversity implications of coppice decline, transformations to high forest and coppice restoration in British woodland.Folia Geobotanica 52: 5–13.
Konvička M., Novák J., Beneš J., Fric Z., Bradley J., Keil P., Hrček J., Chobot K., Marhoul P. (2008): The last population of the Woodland Brown butterfly (Lopinga achine) in the Czech Republic: habitat use, demography and site management. Journal of Insect Conservation 12: 561–561.
Maděra P., Máchala M., Šlach T., Friedl M., Černušáková L., Volařík D., Buček A. (2017): Predicted occurrence of ancient coppice woodlands in the Czech Republic. IForest — Biogeosciences and Forestry 10: 788–795.
Roleček J., Vild O., Sladký J., Řepka R. (2017): Habitat requirements of endangered species in a former coppice of high conservation value. Folia Geobotanica 52: 59–69.
Šrámek M., Matoušková M., Lengálová K., Kruttová K., Zlatanov T., Úředíček L., Ehrenbergerová L., Matula R. (2020): Effective determination of biomass in oak coppices. Trees 34 (6): 1335–1345.
Spitzer L., Konvicka M., Benes J., Tropek R., Tuf I. H., Tufova J. (2008). Does closure of traditionally managed open woodlands threaten epigeic invertebrates? Effects of coppicing and high deer densities. Biological Conservation 141: 827–837.
Stojanović M., Szatniewska J., Kyselová I., Pokorný R., Čater M. (2017): Transpiration and water potential of young Quercus petraea (M.) Liebl. coppice sprouts and seedlings during favourable and drought conditions. — Journal of Forrest Science 63: 313–323.
Unrau A., Becker G., Spinelli R., Lazdina D., Magagnotti N., Nicolescu V. N., Buckley P., Bartlett D., Kofman P.D. (Eds.) (2018): Coppice Forests in Europe. Freiburg, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg: 383 p.
Vild O., Roleček J., Hédl R., Kopecký M. (2013): Experimental restoration of coppice-with-standards: Response of understorey vegetation from the conservation perspective. Forest Ecology and Management 310: 234–241.
Vodka S., Konvička M., Čížek L. (2009): Habitat preferences of oak-feeding xylophagous beetles in a temperate woodland: implications for forest history and management. Journal of Insect Conservation 13: 553–562.
Vymazalová P., Košulič O., Hamřík T., Šipoš J., Hédl R. (2021): Positive impact of coppicing restoration on biodiversity of ground-dwelling spiders in a protected lowland forest. Forest Ecology and Management 450: 1–10.
