Mixed forests: a strategy to face energy and climate issues?

Abstract

Mixing tree species within a forest stand is a strategy that may have several advantages in terms of timber productivity. This strategy may have a positive effect on productivity and could limit the consequences of the weakening or disappearance of a species because of climate change. Nevertheless, the link between productivity and mixture is complex and depends on a set of factors that vary in space and time. Using data from the National Forest Inventory and long-term experiments are two complementary approaches to improve our knowledge on the functioning of mixed forests and to be able to define management strategies adapted to the different kinds of species assemblages and for different climatic conditions.