Dead Wood Types Research Articles

The relative importance of stand and dead wood types for wood-dependent lichens in managed boreal forests

Abstract For efficient conservation, we need to consider both what kinds of habitat species require and the landscape-level supply of these habitats. We examined the relative importance of stand and dead wood types for wood-dependent lichens in two managed boreal forest landscapes in Sweden. We found 20 species and modelled their abundance based on stand type and dead wood characteristics using hierarchical Bayesian models or point estimates. Stands

Effects of partial cutting on logging productivity, economic returns and dead wood in boreal pine forest

Structural diversity of forests is important for biodiversity. In managed forests, structural diversity can be maintained by retaining living and dead trees, and by creating dead wood during logging operations. In Sweden, a small percentage of the trees is currently retained on each clear-cut. Since retention decreases revenues from forest harvesting, it is important to understand the consequences of retention for both forestry economy and biodiversity conservation. Thus, in this study we compared effects of retaining percentages ranging from 5% to 50% of the initial number of trees in 12 Scots pine-dominated stands in central Sweden. The retained trees in each stand consisted of equal proportions of green living trees, felled trees, high-cut trees and girdled trees. We estimated costs associated with tree retention and, as indicators of biodiversity conservation values, dead wood volumes, number of dead wood types, and dead wood diversity. We also estimated the damage caused by the logging operations on old dead wood. Revenue declined with increases in retention level, due mainly to associated reductions in harvested volumes, but partly to increases in logging costs. Both harvester and forwarder performance were lower at high than at low retention levels. The volume of dead wood increased with increases in retention level, since the numberof retained trees killed per standwas proportional to the retention level. The number of dead wood types and dead wood diversity increased continuously up to the highest retention level of almost 50%. Moreover, old dead wood that was deemed particularly valuable for biodiversity was not destroyed at retention levels above 30%. In conclusion, dead wood destruction decreased with increasing retention level and costs increased proportionally to the retained volume. There were no signs of saturation of dead wood diversity as retention level increased. Therefore, mainly economic restrains will determine the retention level.

Effects of forest management on bryophyte communities on deadwood

Epixylic bryophytes are important components of forest vegetation but are currently endangered by increment of wood harvest and intensive forest management. In this paper we present a study about the relationship between forest management, deadwood abundance, deadwood attributes and species richness of epixylic bryophytes on 30 plots comprising three forest types (managed coniferous, managed deciduous and unmanaged deciduous forests) in three regions in Germany. Additionally we analyzed the relations between deadwood attributes (wood species, decay, deadwood type, size) and bryophytes on deadwood items (n = 799) and calculated species interaction networks of wood species and bryophytes. Overall, species richness of epixylic bryophytes was positively related to deadwood abundance and diversity. The mean deadwood abundance was lowest in unmanaged forests (9.7 m(3) ha(-1)) compared with 15.0 m(3) ha(-1) in managed deciduous and 25.1 m(3) ha(-1) in managed coniferous forests. Accordingly, epixylic bryophyte species richness per plot increased from 7 species per 400 m(2) in unmanaged, 10 in managed deciduous and 16 in managed coniferous forests. The interaction network provided evidence of importance of tree-species diversity for bryophyte diversity and the relevance of particular wood species for rare bryophytes. Generally, the results demonstrate a considerable lack of deadwood in all forest types, even in unmanaged forests. Species richness of epixylic bryophytes was strongly limited by available substrates within the observed deadwood abundance ranging up to only 60 m(3) ha(-1). Altogether, this suggests a high demand to increase both abundance and diversity of deadwood in forests.

A dendroecological analysis of eastern hemlock and white pine in relation to logging in La Mauricie National Park (Québec, Canada)

In this study conducted in La Mauricie National Park (south-central Quéec), two tree-ring series of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and white pine (Pinus strobus) were constructed, based on old living trees and dead stems (mainly sunken raft logs). In spite of a low sampling depth before the 1600s, they are among the longest series in North America for these two species, starting in 1523 and 1440, respectively. Tree-ring techniques were used in determining felling years of dead stems (raft wood and other types of dead wood) or corrected felling years for stems in which the outer rings had eroded away. Our data confirm the historical pattern of hemlock use by the lumber industry between 1870 and 1930. As for white pine, logging years indicate that it was harvested for a longer period than that reported in historical records. As early as the 1800s, it was harvested for domestic use or in the context of early, albeit local, industrial logging, i.e., before the first logging rights were issued (in 1832), then commercially until 1950. Radial growth curves show major growth releases occurring at key moments of logging operations, which were likely induced by selective logging among forest stands. Tree-ring data complement the historical background pertaining to logging activities in La Mauricie National Park.

Effects of forest management on the amount of deadwood in Mediterranean oak ecosystems

Deadwood is an important habitat for vertebrate and invertebrate species, a key factor in the nutrient cycle and a valuable carbon pool. Difference in the deadwood C stock depends on many variables such as forest type, microclimate and forest management. We investigated the relationship between C stock in deadwood and forest management in oak stands of southern Italy. Deadwood C stock was quantified in 74 forest stands under intensive, extensive or multifunctional management. The relationship between management and C stock in deadwood was assessed taking into account the decay class and the type of deadwood (snags, stumps and logs). Intensively managed forests are characterized by significantly lower mean levels of deadwood C than the other forms of management. Multifunctional management resulted in the highest level of C, mainly in logs and snags, while extensive management resulted in high levels of C storage concentrated in snags. Results of the research highlight that forest management practices greatly influence the quantitative and qualitative presence of deadwood in forests.

Restoring dead wood in forests diversifies wood-decaying fungal assemblages but does not quickly benefit red-listed species

Decline in the amount of coarse woody debris is a major factor resulting in habitat deterioration for saproxylic organisms in forests. This study assessed the effects of forest restoration (increasing the amount of decaying wood) on dead wood and wood-decaying fungi. The data were collected from Norway spruce and Scots pine dominated forest stands in Finland that had been used for timber production until they were set aside as reserves. Dead trees and polypore fungi were inventoried five years after restoration and compared with control forests. Altogether, 50 polypore species were found from the study area. Restoration clearly increased the amount of dead wood (11.5 vs. 1.1m3/site) as well as the average number of common polypores (6.6 vs. 2.9species/site) but no threatened species were found. Variation in the dead wood types (decay stages) was low in the restored sites which probably hinders the occurrence of rare species. Thus, our results suggest that restoring dead wood does not immediately benefit the populations of red-listed and rare polypores, although restoration clearly alters the fungal assemblages. A longer time span is needed until the restored substrates become suitable for most red-listed species.

Dead branches on living trees constitute a large part of the dead wood in managed boreal forests, but are not important for wood‐dependent lichens

AbstractQuestionsHow much dead wood in the form of dead branches attached to living trees, compared to other types of dead wood, is present in managed boreal forests? Which lichen species grow on this substrate?LocationTwo areas of managed coniferous forest in southern Sweden.MethodsWe surveyed the numbers and surface areas of attached dead branches and all other major types of dead wood in 80 stands of managed coniferous forests of various ages and wooded mires. In total, we recorded 5546 dead branches attached to 480 living trees. We also recorded the species of lichens growing on 812 of these dead branches.ResultsThe surface area of attached dead branches was generally of the same magnitude as that of all other wood types combined. Of the 46 lichen species identified growing on dead branches, 42 were generalist species characteristic of conifer bark and four were wood‐dependent specialists. We found no significant difference in lichen species composition between dead branches of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris, and only small differences in species composition between different stand types and between study areas. There were no clear differences in species composition between the study areas.ConclusionsAlthough overlooked, attached dead branches constitute a significant proportion of all dead wood available in boreal forests. However, the lichen communities on these branches mainly consist of generalist species. Lichens on attached dead branches thus do not seem to contribute strongly to the species pool of wood‐dependent lichens in managed boreal forests.

In search of the best local habitat drivers for saproxylic beetle diversity in temperate deciduous forests

Deadwood-associated species are increasingly targeted in forest biodiversity conservation. In order to improve structural biodiversity indicators and sustainable management guidelines, we need to elucidate ecological and anthropogenic drivers of saproxylic diversity. Herein we aim to disentangle the effects of local habitat attributes which presumably drive saproxylic beetle communities in temperate lowland deciduous forests. We collected data on saproxylic beetles in 104 oak and 49 beech stands in seven French lowland forests and used deadwood, microhabitat and stand features (large trees, openness) as predictor variables to describe local forest conditions. Deadwood diversity and stand openness were consistent key habitat features for species richness and composition in deciduous forests. Large downed deadwood volume was a significant predictor of beetle species richness in oak forests only. In addition, the density of cavity- and fungus-bearing trees had weak but significant effects. We recommend that forest managers favor the local diversification of deadwood types, especially the number of combinations of deadwood positions and tree species, the retention of large downed deadwood and microhabitat-bearing trees in order to maximize the saproxylic beetle diversity at the stand scale in deciduous forests. To improve our understanding of deadwood-biodiversity relationships, further research should be based on targeted surveys on species-microhabitat relationships and should investigate the role of landscape-scale deadwood resources and of historical gaps in continuity of key features availability at the local scale.

Deadwood Density of Five Boreal Tree Species in Relation to Field-Assigned Decay Class

Aboveground deadwood, consisting of downed woody debris (DWD), snags, and stumps, is an important component of boreal forest ecosystem structure. Accurate deadwood density estimates are essential for evaluating ecosystem biomass and carbon stocks. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between deadwood density, tree species, and decay status, identified in the field by morphological characteristics. We sampled DWD, snags, and stumps of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.), and balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) in the boreal forest of central Canada. A total of 240 samples (99 DWD, 94 snags, and 47 stumps) were collected. Decay class and tree species explained >80% of the variation in wood density of all deadwood types. Wood density decreased consistently from the lowest to the highest decay class. Tree species identity was also important in determining the relationships between wood density and field-assigned decay class for snags and stumps, but not for DWD, probably because of the five-class system used for DWD, rather than the three-class system used for snags and stumps. These results indicate that decay class and tree species are adequate predictors of deadwood density.

Aspetti dendroauxometrici, assortimentali e caratteristiche della necromassa in cedui di castagno

Abstract: Chestnut (Castanea sativa MILL.) is one of the most important forest tree species in Europe, and it is considered a symbol of the natural vegetation in southern Europe. In Calabria (southern Italy) chestnut forest covers an area of approximately 87000 hectares, most of which (about 80%) managed as coppice. In this study a growth and yield table has been elaborated. Thurthermore, assortment type and quantity of deadwood have been evaluated according to age of coppice and forest fire prevention, respectively. The study site is located in the “Presila of Catanzaro” and the research was carried out in 15 plots; the age of the examined stands ranged from 2 to 50 years old. More than 30000 shoots per hectare were recorded in the first two years after coppicing. As opposed, about 2300 and 1000 shoots per hectare were observed 15 and 50 years after coppicing, respectively. The culmination of the mean annual increment of the forest standing volume (16 m3 ha-1 year-1) was highlighted 25 years after coppicing, while the current annual increment culmination (21 m3 ha-1 year-1) was observed at 15 years. Fifteen years after coppicing, most of the wood production was constituted by small dimension assortments. Twenty five years after coppicing small and large poles were the prevailing assortments while telegraph poles and timber beams increased after 50 years. The amount of deadwood in forest ranged between 11.9 and 68.7 m3 ha-1. The largest component was represented by standing dead shoots. The results show that coppice management can be adopted even if the main purpose of the chestnut stand is the production of large size assortments. In chestnut coppice, highly vulnerable to fire, the reduction of stand density with silvicultural practices (thinning and displacement) is the main way to promote the efficiency of forest and a higher strength and resiliency against forest fire.

Old rural parks support higher biodiversity than forest remnants

One of the main challenges in biodiversity conservation is to curb a further degradation and loss of high-quality habitats. In agricultural matrix landscapes, the detection of alternative habitats for habitat specialists may be a solution. Historic old parks or landscape gardens around manor houses and castles are cultural heritage of nobles, but their value in harbouring biodiversity is poorly acknowledged. Therefore we evaluated the potential of old rural parks to serve as a habitat for nemoral forest species. We recorded stand structure and the presence of forest biodiversity indicators in 74 closed-canopy stands of historic parks and compared them with 93 neighbouring mature forest remnants on ancient forest land. We estimated the importance of stand structure in relation to habitat type on biodiversity indicators. Finally we suggest single-value indicator-complexes for the cost-efficient assessment of the conservation value of forests and forest-like habitats. Park stands outclassed reference forests in several individual structural characteristics, and in combined indicators of habitat quality and biodiversity. Forests had higher estimates for the combined indicator of dead wood, but large-diameter dead wood types were more abundant in parks. Woodpeckers, several old-growth indicator epiphytes and forest herbs had successfully become established in planted forest-like park fragments. Old rural parks resemble high-conservation-value forests more than the best preserved contemporary forest remnants. After the century needed to overcome immigration delay, old parks do provide a refugium for temperate deciduous forest species. Consequently, biodiversity-targeted management should retain and enhance old-growth attributes in forests and on the peripheries of parks: e.g. preserving old trees to provide service for epiphytes, hollow trees and an understorey mosaic for birds and bats; dead wood elements for saproxylic insects and fungi; limited mowing frequency and increased cutting height for forest herbs. Forestry should enhance the recovery of mixed deciduous stands and avoid conifer plantations.

The dying legacy of green-tree retention: Different habitat values for polypores and wood-inhabiting lichens

The expanding practice of live-tree retention on clear-cuts represents a model case for conservation planning, because the high mortality of those trees requires balancing conflicting management goals in unpredictable conditions over long time frames. We explored the habitat provisioning function of dying retention trees for polypore and epixylic lichen assemblages. We sampled fallen trunks and snags created by known retention-tree deaths during the first post-harvest decade on 46 cut areas in Estonia, hemiboreal Europe. Those trees (particularly large fallen aspens) hosted a species-rich polypore assemblage that included several species of conservation concern. Lichen colonization of wood was slower and most species were found on pine snags. At the tree scale, the total species richness was highest on the trees that had died by trunk breakage creating both a snag and a log. To represent all species at the cutover scale, equal retention of different tree species and dead-wood types was sufficient for common species, but selective retention appeared necessary for species of conservation concern. The most frequent polypore species of conservation concern were either characteristic of specific substrates (notably aspen trunks) or early-successional stand conditions. We conclude that (i) dying retention trees are unlikely to provide dead-wood continuity at the stand scale and this function should be assessed at the landscape scale; (ii) effective habitat provisioning should include predicting and affecting the causes of tree death and linked management decisions based on the diversity, size, and longevity of the trees in specific landscape contexts.

Deadwood occurrence and forest structure as indicators of old-growth forest conditions in Mediterranean mountainous ecosystems

In order to identify the distinctive traits of old-growth forests in a Mediterranean context, deadwood occurrence and forest stand structures were investigated in remote forests not subject to anthropogenic disturbance over the past few decades. Five study sites in south-central Italy were selected, and structural parameters were recorded in 1-ha plots. Living trees, deadwood, types, and decay stages were inventoried in the selected sites. Living tree volumes and amounts of deadwood indicated large variability among the investigated forest stands, ranging from 363 to 702 m3·ha−1 for living trees and from 17 to 143 m3·ha−1 for deadwood. Downed deadwood was the most abundant component, due to the natural mortality occurring in the stands. Stumps were the least common among the types of deadwood. All the decay classes were present in each study site. The main structural features useful for characterizing these old-growth forest stands included a multi-sized diameter distribution of living trees, the presence of small-scale gap dynamics, tree height heterogeneity, and high values of living volume and basal area. A ratio of dead to living wood not lower than 10%, downed deadwood much more abundant than standing deadwood, and a large range of deadwood size and decay classes across all the deadwood components are useful traits for tracking old-growth stages in these Mediterranean forests.

Contrasting responses of epiphytic and dead wood-dwelling lichen diversity to forest management abandonment in silver fir mature woodlands

In the Alps, many forests are under abandonment because of direct protection or the unprofitability of timber production. The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of silviculture abandonment on the species richness and composition of epiphytic and dead wood-dwelling lichens in silver fir woodlands. An abandoned and a currently non-intensively managed forest watershed of the eastern Italian Alps that were matched for topography, stand structure, plant community and history of use were selected and randomly sampled for the lichen diversity of their silver fir mature stands. Generalised linear mixed models were used for the analyses of the species richness, whereas the species composition patterns were explored by redundancy analysis. The diversity of both of the lichen guilds were explained by the microhabitat conditions related to the contrasting management regimes, but they had opposite responses to the abandonment of the silvicultural activities. The epiphytic lichen communities were richer in species in the managed than in the abandoned silver fir woodlands. However, the effect of a 50year management cessation on the epiphytic lichens may change in the long term when natural disturbances create gaps and increase the attributes of old-growth forests. The dead wood-dwelling lichen species richness was higher in the abandoned forest because an increased availability of types of dead wood is usually rare in managed forests. The dead wood-dwelling lichen communities of the managed forests were a subset of a more diverse community that was developing in the abandoned forest. Our results indicated that, in non-intensively managed silver fir mature stands, lichen diversity may benefit from the retention of logs and snags, which provide habitat features typical of old-growth forests.

The effect of forest fuel harvesting on the fungal diversity of clear-cuts

The removal of logging residues and stumps from clear-cuts has become a common forestry practice. Forest fuel harvesting decreases the initially low volume of dead wood in managed forests, but the biodiversity effects are poorly known. We studied the effects of forest fuel harvesting on decomposer fungi on clear-cut Norway spruce stands in central Finland. The number of occurrences and taxa of polypores, saprotrophic agarics and pleurotoid agarics were determined on 10 forest fuel harvested and 10 control clear-cuts 4–5 years after logging. In total, we recorded 148 fungal taxa. The total number of taxa, the number of polypore occurrences, and the number of polypore species within small area were lower at forest fuel harvested sites. The effect on the number of saprotrophic agaric taxa became obvious with increasing area. Most of the common polypore species had fewer occurrences on forest fuel harvested sites while the commonest agaric species increased due to forest fuel harvesting. Concerning different dead wood types, there were fewer fungal species and occurrences on stumps and fewer occurrences on logs on forest fuel harvested sites. Most of the effects of forest fuel harvesting were explained by the reduction in resource availability. We conclude that forest fuel harvesting, especially stump removal, has negative effects on decomposer fungi and that there is a risk that populations of certain species still thriving in managed forests will decline in the future.

Corrigendum: Modelled impact of Norway spruce logging residue extraction on biodiversity in Sweden

The following corrections are made to the article. p. 1220: The fifth sentence in the Abstract should read “Our results suggest that the extraction may cause a 35%–45% reduction in FWD and a more than 20% decline in the potential amount of substrate for about 50% of the species (affecting basidiomycetes and beetles more than lichens).”. The fifth sentence in the Resume should read “Nos resultats indiquent que la recuperation peut eliminer 35 % – 45 % des DLF et reduire de plus de 20 % la quantite potentielle de substrat pour environ 50 % des especes (ce qui affecte les basidiomycetes et les insectes plus que les lichens).”. p. 1221, Table 1: A correcting and clarifying note to the table 1 is added: “In scenarios 2–4; we assumed that logging residue extraction caused a 70% decrease in the volume of 0–5 cm and a 30% decrease in the volume of 5–10 cm of all fine woody debris (including what present before final harvest).”. p. 1225, right column, “Modelled effects of logging residue extraction on the amount of dead wood” section: The first sentence should read “Extraction of logging residues left after final felling (scenario 2) caused a 35% reduction in the average availability of FWD, a 24% reduction of the inflow of aboveground FWD, and a 14% reduction in the total inflow of FWD within a stand during a forest rotation compared with scenario 1 (Figs. 2 and 4).”. The third sentence should read “Removal of aboveground FWD also after all thinnings (scenario 3) caused a reduction by 45% in the average availability of FWD, a 32% reduction of the inflow of aboveground FWD, and a 19% reduction in the total inflow of FWD within a stand during a forest rotation compared with scenario 1 (Figs. 2 and 4).”. p. 1226, caption to Fig. 4: The first sentence of the caption should read “Simulated average amount of various types of dead wood at the landscape level or during a forest generation measured as (a) volume and (b) surface area at different levels of logging residue extraction in Kronoberg.”.

The preferences of saproxylic beetle species for different dead wood types created in forest restoration treatments

Restoration by imitating natural disturbances is widely practised in boreal forests to increase the availability of habitats for specialized species. We studied the abundance and species richness of saproxylic beetles on different types of created dead wood during 2 years after restoration. The study was conducted on areas of a large-scale experiment in which Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests were restored by controlled burning and partial harvesting with down wood retention in southern Finland. More beetle species were attracted to spruces than to birches and more species were attracted to burnt trees than to unburnt trees killed by girdling. Birch-living species consistently benefited from fire, but on spruce, the abundance of cambium consumers and their associates was negatively affected by fire. Trees at harvested sites attracted more beetles in the first year, but the volume of down wood retention had only minor effects. Beetle assemblages were strongly altered by burning and harvesting. We conclude that burning and harvesting are efficient tools to promote species richness within a short time period, but there is a risk that the dead wood resource may be rapidly exhausted. Moreover, many saproxylic species of spruce forests may not be adapted to open habitats formed by stand-replacing disturbances.

DEADWOOD IN FOREST STANDS CLOSE TO OLD-GROWTHNESS UNDER MEDITERRANEAN CONDITIONS IN THE ITALIAN PENINSULA

Considering that indicators of old-growth features can vary across the European ecoregions, this paper provides some results to identify the distinctive traits of old-growth forests in the Mediterranean ecoregion. Deadwood occurrence as indicator of naturalness is investigated in some remote forest areas that have developed in absence of anthropogenic disturbance over the past few decades. Eleven study sites across the Italian peninsula were selected and records of deadwood were carried out in 1-ha size plots. Deadwood volume, deadwood types and decay stages were inventoried in the selected sites. The amounts of deadwood indicate a large variability among the investigated forest stands: the total volume ranged between 2 and 143 m3ha-1, with an average of 60 m3ha-1. Lying deadwood is the most abundant component of deadwood in the investigated forests, due to the natural mortality occurring in the stands in relation to the processes established in the last decades. On the contrary, stumps are the less represented type of deadwood in almost all the study areas. All the decay classes are present in each study site. The amount of deadwood in Southern Europe, even if lower than that reported for North and Central European countries, could have a different meaning due to the faster decay occurring in Mediterranean forest ecosystems. For this reason, old-growth features and the characteristics of each indicator should be framed and referred to well-defined climatic andbiogeographic contexts. Distinctively, under the conditions here investigated, three main deadwood features prove to characterize forest stands close to old-growthness: a ratio of dead to living wood not lower than 10%; lying deadwood much more abundant than the standing one; large range of deadwood size and decay classes across all the deadwood components.

Indicators of Structural and Habitat Natural Quality in Boreo-Nemoral Forests along the Management Gradient

We aimed to quantify the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on forest structure and diversity in deciduous and mixed boreo-nemoral stands, conditioned on potential confounding factors. Based on these results, we created a statistically-supported indicator list of stand “naturalness”. We surveyed 50 quantitative and qualitative characteristics of a stand, the understorey and forest floor, and several widely accepted biodiversity indicators in 171 forests in Estonia. Multi-factorial GLM and GLIM analyses showed that many forest structural characteristics were confounded by forest site-type specificity, stand age and/or biogeography. Near-natural old-growth forests had higher proportions of deciduous trees, a larger amount of coarse woody debris, a higher frequency of logs in each decay class, a denser understorey, and were more homogeneous in the horizontal pattern of each layer than mature managed forests. By improving light conditions, forest management indirectly increased herb layer richness and coverage and the proportion of graminoids. The critical easy-to-apply set of indicators to assess forest ecosystem quality includes the amount and type of dead wood, the canopy closure of a stand and the presence of specially-shaped trees, specific epiphytic indicator lichens, mosses and wood-dwelling insects, and forest site-type specific herb layer species.

Assessing impacts of intensified biomass removal on deadwood in European forests

Abstract Deadwood is a key indicator for assessing policy and management impacts on forest biodiversity. We developed an approach to include deadwood in the large-scale European Forest Information Scenario (EFISCEN) model and analysed impacts of intensifying forest biomass removal on the amount and type of deadwood in forests of 24 European Union member states. In EFISCEN, deadwood consists of standing and downed deadwood, resulting from mortality, and stem residues from felling activities. To include deadwood in EFISCEN we developed mortality functions and re-estimated the model's increment functions. Further, we modelled the development of standing deadwood. Decomposition of downed deadwood and stem residues was modelled through the soil model YASSO. We used the extended model to analyse the impacts of a baseline scenario (no policy changes, a moderate increase in wood removals and no extraction of residues) and a bio-energy scenario (an increase of wood and residue removals to the maximum potential) on deadwood in 2030. In our baseline scenario the average amount of deadwood was 12.3 ton ha −1 in 2005 and increased by 6.4% in 2030. Intensified biomass removal could fully counteract this development and lead to a reduction of 5.5% in 2030 below the levels in 2005. The type of deadwood changed as well; residue removal led to a general decrease in the amount of smaller deadwood fractions (i.e. stem residues). Further, if felling levels are increased as in our bio-energy scenario, a decrease can be expected in the amount of standing deadwood and of large-diameter deadwood. We conclude that without additional management measures to protect deadwood, intensification of biomass removal could negatively affect deadwood-dependent species, which constitute an important part of biodiversity in European forests.