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• Key message A recent paper by Ceccherini et al.(2020a) reported an abrupt increase of 30% in the French harvested forest area in 2016–2018 compared to 2004–2015. A re-analysis of their data rather led us to conclude that, when accounting for the singular effect of storm Klaus, the rate of change in harvested area depended on the change year used to separate the two periods to compare. Moreover, the comparison with data on harvested volumes from different sources brought contrasted results depending on the source. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that wood harvest increased in France in 2016–2018 compared to 2004–2015. The discrepancy between Ceccherini et al.’s data and other data on harvested volumes points out the difficulty of reconciling different approaches to estimate wood harvest at a country level.
Nicolas Picard; Jean-Michel Leban; Jean-Marc Guehl; Erwin Dreyer; Olivier Bouriaud; Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Guy Landmann; Antoine Colin; Jean-Luc Peyron; Pascal Marty. Recent increase in European forest harvests as based on area estimates (Ceccherini et al. 2020a) not confirmed in the French case. Annals of Forest Science 2021, 78, 1 -5.
AMA StyleNicolas Picard, Jean-Michel Leban, Jean-Marc Guehl, Erwin Dreyer, Olivier Bouriaud, Jean-Daniel Bontemps, Guy Landmann, Antoine Colin, Jean-Luc Peyron, Pascal Marty. Recent increase in European forest harvests as based on area estimates (Ceccherini et al. 2020a) not confirmed in the French case. Annals of Forest Science. 2021; 78 (1):1-5.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNicolas Picard; Jean-Michel Leban; Jean-Marc Guehl; Erwin Dreyer; Olivier Bouriaud; Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Guy Landmann; Antoine Colin; Jean-Luc Peyron; Pascal Marty. 2021. "Recent increase in European forest harvests as based on area estimates (Ceccherini et al. 2020a) not confirmed in the French case." Annals of Forest Science 78, no. 1: 1-5.
Pure and even-aged (PEA) forests of fast growing conifer species have for long been key providers of industrial raw material. Despite recent concern regarding their greater sensitivity to major natural disturbances, their impacts onto biodiversity and their funding efficiency, PEA conifer forests could remain a major economic target given the ongoing European strategy for bioeconomy. These forests are encountered across contrasted climates and in both native and introduced contexts across Europe giving rise to high uncertainties regarding their growth responses to current climate change. Using the French national forest inventory data, we inquired the radial growth of eight major conifer species in European forestry across 16 regional native and introduced PEA forest systems (n > 10,000 trees). Growth trends over the 2006-2016 period exhibited a negative association with absolute growth level in 2006, with strongest negative trends found for emblematic PEA forestry species (e.g. Norway spruce and Douglas-fir), and strongest positive trends for pine species (e.g. Scots pine). While the greater growth rate advantage of some species may shorten rotation and lower risk exposures for future decades, recent lowered productivity may affect the forest sector in the long run. The prevalence of PEA forests across European forest landscapes and their increasingly reported lower resilience to climate change compared to more complex forest systems call for the establishment of a long-term European forest policy strategy. Maintaining the environmental, social and economic benefits of forests should remain a priority in the European agenda, regardless of the financial costs at stake.
Clémentine Ols; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Pure and even-aged forestry of fast-growing conifers under climate change: on the need for a silvicultural paradigm shift. Environmental Research Letters 2020, 16, 024030 .
AMA StyleClémentine Ols, Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Pure and even-aged forestry of fast-growing conifers under climate change: on the need for a silvicultural paradigm shift. Environmental Research Letters. 2020; 16 (2):024030.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClémentine Ols; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. 2020. "Pure and even-aged forestry of fast-growing conifers under climate change: on the need for a silvicultural paradigm shift." Environmental Research Letters 16, no. 2: 024030.
French forests exhibit the fastest relative changes across Europe. Growing stock increases faster than area, and is greatest in low-stocked private broadleaved forests. Past areal increases and current GS levels show positive effects on GS expansion, with GS increases hence expected to persist. Strong increases in growing stocks (GS) of European forests for decades remain poorly understood and of unknown duration. French forests showing the greatest relative changes across Europe form the investigated case study. The magnitudes of net area, GS, and GS density (GSD) changes were evaluated across forest categories reflecting forest policy and land-use drivers. The roles of forest areal changes, GS and GSD levels on GS changes were investigated. National Forest Inventory data were used to produce time series of area, GS and GSD across forest categories over 1976–2014, and exploratory causal models of GS changes. GS (+ 57%) increased three times faster than area, highlighting an advanced stage in the forest transition. Low-stocked private forests exhibited strong changes in GS/GSD, greatest in private broadleaved forests, stressing the contribution of returning forests on abandoned lands. Regression models demonstrated positive effects of both past areal increases and current GS, on GS expansion. Aerial C-sink in French forests is expected to persist in future decades.
Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Anaïs Denardou; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Jean Bir; Jean-Luc Dupouey. Unprecedented pluri-decennial increase in the growing stock of French forests is persistent and dominated by private broadleaved forests. Annals of Forest Science 2020, 77, 1 -20.
AMA StyleJean-Daniel Bontemps, Anaïs Denardou, Jean-Christophe Hervé, Jean Bir, Jean-Luc Dupouey. Unprecedented pluri-decennial increase in the growing stock of French forests is persistent and dominated by private broadleaved forests. Annals of Forest Science. 2020; 77 (4):1-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJean-Daniel Bontemps; Anaïs Denardou; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Jean Bir; Jean-Luc Dupouey. 2020. "Unprecedented pluri-decennial increase in the growing stock of French forests is persistent and dominated by private broadleaved forests." Annals of Forest Science 77, no. 4: 1-20.
Centenary forest statistics informing major attributes of French forests were digitized, checked for consistency, and used to infer forest dynamics. Comparison to forest inventory data highlights increases in forest area and tree diversity, and substantial maturation of forests. Dataset access at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3739458 The history of European forest dynamic remains fragmental. In France, the Daubrée statistics (1908) and agricultural statistics (1892, 1929) formed fundamental material to fill this gap. Release, test, and summarize the digitalized dataset. Analyze long-term forest changes in forest area, composition, and structure. Primary data on forest area across NUTS-3 geographic units, split by forest management and ownership categories and dominating tree species (Daubrée), were digitized and cross-compared. Centennial changes in forest attributes were assessed from modern forest inventory data. Cross-comparison revealed: (1) strong temporal consistency in forest changes over time, (2) systematic and interpretable biases in ownership/management categories between Daubrée and agricultural statistics. Strong shift from coppices to high forests, increased prevalence of private ownership, and constant proportion of broadleaf- and conifer-dominated forests were highlighted, with increased tree species diversity at country scale. Ancient statistics are shown to play a major role in retrospective land-use and forest policy analysis.
Timothée Audinot; Holger Wernsdörfer; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Ancient forest statistics provide centennial perspective over the status and dynamics of forest area in France. Annals of Forest Science 2020, 77, 1 -24.
AMA StyleTimothée Audinot, Holger Wernsdörfer, Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Ancient forest statistics provide centennial perspective over the status and dynamics of forest area in France. Annals of Forest Science. 2020; 77 (3):1-24.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTimothée Audinot; Holger Wernsdörfer; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. 2020. "Ancient forest statistics provide centennial perspective over the status and dynamics of forest area in France." Annals of Forest Science 77, no. 3: 1-24.
Tree growing conditions are changing rapidly in the face of climate change. Capturing tree-growth response to such changes across environmental contexts and tree species calls for a continuous forest monitoring over space. Based on >10,000 tree-ring measurements sampled across the systematic grid of the continuous French national forest inventory (NFI) over the 2006–2016 period, we evaluated the radial growth trends of eight conifer tree species prevalent in European forests across their native and introduced ranges and various bioclimatic contexts (n = 16 forest systems). For each forest system, radial increments were filtered out from tree, plot, soil and climatic normal influences to isolate environment-driven growth signals and quantify residual time-series. Associated growth trends across forest systems were then confronted against environmental variables (e.g. short-term averages and trends in seasonal climate). Trends for a given species were systematically more positive in cooler contexts (higher elevations or northern distribution margins) than in warmer contexts (plains). Decreases and increases in precipitation regimes were found to be associated with negative and positive tree growth trends, respectively. Remarkably, positive growth trends were mainly observed for native forest systems (7/9) and negative trends for introduced systems (5/7). Native forests showed a more heterogeneous forest structure as compared to introduced forests that, in line with observed positive dependence of tree growth trends onto both water availability and forest heterogeneity, appears to modulate the competitive pressure on water resource with ongoing summer maximum temperature increase. Over a short annually-resolved study period, we were able to capture tree growth responses coherent with climate change across diverse forest ecosystems. With ongoing accumulation of data, the continuous French NFI hence arises as powerful support to monitoring climate change effects on forests.
Clémentine Ols; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Recent growth trends of conifers across Western Europe are controlled by thermal and water constraints and favored by forest heterogeneity. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 742, 140453 .
AMA StyleClémentine Ols, Jean-Christophe Hervé, Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Recent growth trends of conifers across Western Europe are controlled by thermal and water constraints and favored by forest heterogeneity. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 742 ():140453.
Chicago/Turabian StyleClémentine Ols; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. 2020. "Recent growth trends of conifers across Western Europe are controlled by thermal and water constraints and favored by forest heterogeneity." Science of The Total Environment 742, no. : 140453.
Forest tree species strongly influence forest dynamics and management. French forests have the greatest compositional diversity in Europe, which constrains the quantitative analysis of associated wood resources. A partition of French forests according to dominant tree species composition and stratified by biogeographical regions (GRECO) was developed in order to handle this diversity. The partition relies on forest composition as measured by the national forest inventory (2006–2015, > 65,000 plots). It builds on the J-shaped distribution of elementary composition abundance, identifies dominant compositions describing at least 50% of the GRECO's area, and groups minor compositions. An ecological assessment of this partition and its application to the analysis of the growing stock are developed. The partition describes 61.4% of the forest area (66% of the growing stock) according to 29 dominant compositions, demonstrating its efficiency. These compositions revealed the importance of broadleaved mixtures, and of neglected forest strata (pine species in Northern France). Growing stock density appeared lowest in broadleaved compositions (Mediterranean oaks), and highest in some coniferous compositions (silver fir/Norway spruce mixture in mountains). Partitioning highlights the role of ecological contexts and forest management on tree diversity.
Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Anaïs Denardou. Partition idéalisée et régionalisée de la composition en espèces ligneuses des forêts françaises. Écoscience 2019, 26, 291 -308.
AMA StyleJean-Daniel Bontemps, Jean-Christophe Hervé, Anaïs Denardou. Partition idéalisée et régionalisée de la composition en espèces ligneuses des forêts françaises. Écoscience. 2019; 26 (4):291-308.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJean-Daniel Bontemps; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Anaïs Denardou. 2019. "Partition idéalisée et régionalisée de la composition en espèces ligneuses des forêts françaises." Écoscience 26, no. 4: 291-308.
Recent growth changes (1980–2007) in Western European forests strongly vary across tree species, and range from +42% in mountain contexts to −17% in Mediterranean contexts. These changes reveal recent climate warming footprint and are structured by species' temperature (−) and precipitation (+) growing conditions. Unprecedented climate warming impacts forests extensively, questioning the respective roles of climatic habitats and tree species in forest growth responses. National forest inventories ensure a repeated and spatially systematic monitoring of forests and form a unique contributing data source. A primary aim of this paper was to estimate recent growth changes in eight major European tree species, in natural contexts ranging from mountain to Mediterranean. A second aim was to explore their association with species’ climatic habitat and contemporary climate change. Using >315,000 tree increments measured in >25,000 NFI plots, temporal changes in stand basal area increment (BAI) were modelled. Indicators of climate normals and of recent climatic change were correlated to species BAI changes. BAI changes spanned from −17 to +42% over 1980–2007 across species. BAI strongly increased for mountain species, showed moderate/no increase for generalist and temperate lowland species and declined for Mediterranean species. BAI changes were greater in colder/wetter contexts than in warmer/drier ones where declines were observed. This suggested a role for climate warming, further found more intense in colder contexts and strongly correlated with species BAI changes. The predominant role of climate warming and species climatic habitat in recent growth changes is highlighted in Western Europe. Concern is raised for Mediterranean species, showing growth decreases in a warmer climate with stable precipitation.
Marie Charru; Ingrid Seynave; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Romain Bertrand; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Recent growth changes in Western European forests are driven by climate warming and structured across tree species climatic habitats. Annals of Forest Science 2017, 74, 33 .
AMA StyleMarie Charru, Ingrid Seynave, Jean-Christophe Hervé, Romain Bertrand, Jean-Daniel Bontemps. Recent growth changes in Western European forests are driven by climate warming and structured across tree species climatic habitats. Annals of Forest Science. 2017; 74 (2):33.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarie Charru; Ingrid Seynave; Jean-Christophe Hervé; Romain Bertrand; Jean-Daniel Bontemps. 2017. "Recent growth changes in Western European forests are driven by climate warming and structured across tree species climatic habitats." Annals of Forest Science 74, no. 2: 33.
International audienceAbstractKey messageThis analysis of the tools and methods currently in use for reporting woody biomass availability in 21 European countries has shown that most countries use, or are developing, National Forest Inventory-oriented models whereas the others use standwise forest inventory--oriented methods.ContextKnowledge of realistic and sustainable wood availability in Europe is highly relevant to define climate change mitigation strategies at national and European level, to support the development of realistic targets for increased use of renewable energy sources and of industry wood. Future scenarios at European level highlight a deficit of domestic wood supply compared to wood consumption, and some European countries state they are harvesting above the increment.AimsSeveral country-level studies on wood availability have been performed for international reporting. However, it remains essential to improve the knowledge on the projection methods used across Europe to better evaluate forecasts.MethodsAnalysis was based on descriptions supplied by the national correspondentsinvolved in USEWOOD COST Action (FP1001), and further enriched with additionaldata from international reports that allowedcharacterisation of the forests in these countries for the same base year.ResultsMethods currently used for projecting wood availability were described for 21 European countries. Projection systems based on National Forest Inventory (NFI) data prevail over methods based on forest management plans. Only a few countries lack nationwide projection tools, still using tools developed for specific areas.ConclusionsA wide range of NFI-based systems for projecting wood availability exists, being under permanent improvement. The validation of projection forecasts and the inclusion of climate sensitive growth models into these tools are common aims for most countries. Cooperation among countries would result in higher efficiency when developing and improving projection tools and better comparability among them
Susana Barreiro; Mart-Jan Schelhaas; Gerald Kändler; Clara Antón-Fernández; Antoine Colin; Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Iciar Alberdi; Sonia Condés; Marius Dumitru; Angel Ferezliev; Christoph Fischer; Patrizia Gasparini; Thomas Gschwantner; Georg Kindermann; Bjarki Kjartansson; Pál Kovácsevics; Milos Kucera; Anders Lundström; Gheorghe Marin; Gintautas Mozgeris; Thomas Nord-Larsen; Tuula Packalen; John Redmond; Sandro Sacchelli; Allan Sims; Arnór Snorrason; Nickola Stoyanov; Esther Thürig; Per-Erik Wikberg. Overview of methods and tools for evaluating future woody biomass availability in European countries. Annals of Forest Science 2016, 73, 823 -837.
AMA StyleSusana Barreiro, Mart-Jan Schelhaas, Gerald Kändler, Clara Antón-Fernández, Antoine Colin, Jean-Daniel Bontemps, Iciar Alberdi, Sonia Condés, Marius Dumitru, Angel Ferezliev, Christoph Fischer, Patrizia Gasparini, Thomas Gschwantner, Georg Kindermann, Bjarki Kjartansson, Pál Kovácsevics, Milos Kucera, Anders Lundström, Gheorghe Marin, Gintautas Mozgeris, Thomas Nord-Larsen, Tuula Packalen, John Redmond, Sandro Sacchelli, Allan Sims, Arnór Snorrason, Nickola Stoyanov, Esther Thürig, Per-Erik Wikberg. Overview of methods and tools for evaluating future woody biomass availability in European countries. Annals of Forest Science. 2016; 73 (4):823-837.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSusana Barreiro; Mart-Jan Schelhaas; Gerald Kändler; Clara Antón-Fernández; Antoine Colin; Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Iciar Alberdi; Sonia Condés; Marius Dumitru; Angel Ferezliev; Christoph Fischer; Patrizia Gasparini; Thomas Gschwantner; Georg Kindermann; Bjarki Kjartansson; Pál Kovácsevics; Milos Kucera; Anders Lundström; Gheorghe Marin; Gintautas Mozgeris; Thomas Nord-Larsen; Tuula Packalen; John Redmond; Sandro Sacchelli; Allan Sims; Arnór Snorrason; Nickola Stoyanov; Esther Thürig; Per-Erik Wikberg. 2016. "Overview of methods and tools for evaluating future woody biomass availability in European countries." Annals of Forest Science 73, no. 4: 823-837.
Annals of Forest Science is publishing a series of review papers to celebrate 50 years of activities as a journal in forest and wood science. The reviews emphasize the extent to which forest and wood sciences changed and developed as a large array of disciplines devoted to complex objects with sometimes many conflicting issues.
Jean Michel Leban; Marianne Peiffer; Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Erwin Dreyer. Editorial: “Fifty years Annals of Forest Science”. Annals of Forest Science 2016, 73, 1 -3.
AMA StyleJean Michel Leban, Marianne Peiffer, Jean-Daniel Bontemps, Erwin Dreyer. Editorial: “Fifty years Annals of Forest Science”. Annals of Forest Science. 2016; 73 (1):1-3.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJean Michel Leban; Marianne Peiffer; Jean-Daniel Bontemps; Erwin Dreyer. 2016. "Editorial: “Fifty years Annals of Forest Science”." Annals of Forest Science 73, no. 1: 1-3.