High forest (woodland)
Encyclopedia
High forest is a term for a woodland
or forest
with a well-developed natural structure. It is used in both ecology
and woodland management, particularly in contrast with even-aged woodland types such as coppice
and planted woodland.
In a high forest the trees range in age from young seedling
s and saplings through to mature trees and veteran tree
s, and there are well-developed layers of canopy trees, shrub
s and ground vegetation, as well as occasional clearings.
High forest may occur as a result of the natural development of woodland without human
interference, or it may be created and maintained through deliberate management. It usually has greater biodiversity
than even-aged woodland, because it has a greater range of microhabitat
s within it (thus providing niche
s for more organisms), and because it is more similar to the natural woodland to which woodland organism
s are adapted.
Once fully established, high forest may require less regular woodland management than some other woodland types such as coppice, and for this reason (as well as the potential for increased biodiversity), it is sometimes chosen as a deliberate management aim for neglected woodland.
In many climate
s, a lack of woodland management in plantation or coppice may eventually produce high forest, as trees fall and new ones grow. However, this natural process is likely to take many decade
s on its own, and so deliberate thinning and selective felling
may be used to speed up development of high forest.
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
or forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
with a well-developed natural structure. It is used in both ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
and woodland management, particularly in contrast with even-aged woodland types such as coppice
Coppicing
Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which takes advantage of the fact that many trees make new growth from the stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, young tree stems are repeatedly cut down to near ground level...
and planted woodland.
In a high forest the trees range in age from young seedling
Seedling
thumb|Monocot and dicot seedlingsA seedling is a young plant sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle , the hypocotyl , and the cotyledons...
s and saplings through to mature trees and veteran tree
Veteran tree
A veteran tree or legacy tree is a tree which, because of its great age, size or condition, is of exceptional cultural, landscape or nature conservation value.-Definition:...
s, and there are well-developed layers of canopy trees, shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s and ground vegetation, as well as occasional clearings.
High forest may occur as a result of the natural development of woodland without human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
interference, or it may be created and maintained through deliberate management. It usually has greater biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
than even-aged woodland, because it has a greater range of microhabitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s within it (thus providing niche
Ecological niche
In ecology, a niche is a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem to each other; e.g. a dolphin could potentially be in another ecological niche from one that travels in a different pod if the members of these pods utilize significantly different food...
s for more organisms), and because it is more similar to the natural woodland to which woodland organism
Organism
In biology, an organism is any contiguous living system . In at least some form, all organisms are capable of response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development, and maintenance of homoeostasis as a stable whole.An organism may either be unicellular or, as in the case of humans, comprise...
s are adapted.
Once fully established, high forest may require less regular woodland management than some other woodland types such as coppice, and for this reason (as well as the potential for increased biodiversity), it is sometimes chosen as a deliberate management aim for neglected woodland.
In many climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
s, a lack of woodland management in plantation or coppice may eventually produce high forest, as trees fall and new ones grow. However, this natural process is likely to take many decade
Decade
A decade is a period of 10 years. The word is derived from the Ancient Greek dekas which means ten. This etymology is sometime confused with the Latin decas and dies , which is not correct....
s on its own, and so deliberate thinning and selective felling
Selection cutting
Selection cutting is the silvicultural practice of harvesting a proportion of the trees in a stand. Selection cutting is the practice of removing mature timber or the lessening of older trees to improve the timber stand. This system may be used to manage even or uneven-aged stands...
may be used to speed up development of high forest.