» Action C1. Forestry activities to regulate competition and promote yew growth Life TAXUS

Action C1. Forestry activities to regulate competition and promote yew growth

Description

Reduce competition from woody plants that competes with the yews.

Actions

Dose the competition by means of selective cuttings and the selection of shoots to facilitate growth and fruiting of adult yews and facilitate regeneration. Additionally, there will be selective seedlings or young yews cleaning to regulate competition and facilitate their growth. This work involves a diagnosis and subsequent marking of all yews. Three treatments on all feet affected by competition yew were designed: 1) moderate thinning, 2) strong thinning, 3) clearing of seedlings and juveniles. Each copy may be affected by competition at three levels of priority: 1) mechanical competence, 2) by water, 3) by light. This implies a different treatment intensity for each tree. It includes selective clearings in the vicinity of yew seedlings or juveniles to regulate competition and facilitate their growth.

Competition data is available in the tables at the end of the page.

Results

It has acted upon the totality of yew forests (191,3 ha) and 8.220 yew individuals between juvenile and especially adults. After observing the reaction in the first year, a second treatment was applied in areas of lower intensity of thinning. Some 20,500 woody plants have been treated by cutting or pruning, including oak, oak, pine and other species. The result is a regulation of competition in the long term. It is the first time that different treatments are tested and careful ecological monitoring is carried out and in different biogeographic locations, which can draw conclusions about the intensity of thinnings to apply, so that can be transferred to other locations and Mediterranean regions. It has introduced the generation of dead wood for biodiversity and forest dynamics by demolition or girdling standing trees.

Zones

All zones

Calendar

First quarter 2013 – 1st 2015

Competence

The figure shows how most of the yew are covered or locked by other woody species that hinder or prevent the growth height thereof. Sierra de Llaberia. Source: CTFC 2008.

Yew adults: two typical situations of competition. Fuente: CTFC2008.

: Yews in adult pinewood

: Yews in adult oak forest