Sites conditions. The forest experiment is distributed over 5 regions (see land cover map) located in temperate forests across the Netherlands (52° 12′ 46.77″ N, 5° 16′ 45.73″ E), characterized by a temperate Atlantic climate with mild winters, mild summers and precipitation (annually ~800 mm) throughout the year. The research sites are located on flat terrain at ~30-70m above sea level and characterized by poor sandy podzols. Such poor soil conditions dominate ~80% of the Dutch forests and ~45% across Central Europe.
Plot design. In February and March 2019, we established 15 experimental forest plots in stands dominated by Douglas fir, Common beech or Scots pine in 5 plots per tree species and were distributed over 5 regions (see map). Stands varied in age from 41 to 104 years. Each of the 15 experimental forest plots is approximately 1-1.2 ha in size, and was divided in four ¼-ha subplots: one clear-cut (all trees removed), a shelterwood-system (~80% removed), a high-thinning (~20% removed) and a control (no removal). In addition, in the clear-cut and shelterwood system we added subplots to compare the impact of stem-only-harvest versus stem-and-crown-harvest and soil mulching (yes or no), with the former treatment also being added to the high-thinning.
Climate Smart Forestry 