Biodiversity and the evaluation of ecosystems has been the core focus for a project headed by the University of the Basque Country, Spain, which claims analysis of wood and plant species could indicate the overall health of a forest.

Lead Researcher Miren Onaindia says the research, which focuses on the Basque Country, could improve forest management and ecosystem maintenance. She explains ‘We found pine trees could help stabilise forests, as oakwoods can grow under the canopy of the pines.’

The group also found a distinct correlation between the character of plant and wood species and the level of disturbance by clear-cutting and grazing, in forests, with the presence of nemoral species being a good indication of less disturbance.

According to Onaindia, species that signify tree organisation have also been identified in the project. She says, ‘The nemoral forb and fern can be considered as indicators of organisation and originality of oak mixed woodlands. However, some species have a small seed bank and are difficult to maintain after degradation. In the studied area, these species were only present at old growth woodlands’.

She adds, ‘Moreover, disturbance causes the reduction of cover of dominant tree species, such as beech and Wych elm, which are sensitive tree species. Both species had a high cover at the old-growth woodland, but seedlings had difficulty progressing at the first successional stages. On the other hand, disturbance favours the cover of tree species, such as birch, chestnut, Holm oak, and Willow, so these species are common at early stages of colonisation.'

The Basque Country, which has a forest coverage of 53% of its total surface has a long tradition of forest management, which has in the last decades been replaced with environmentally more aggressive methods. Researchers claim the findings on foreign species plantations and ecosystem services could easily be generalised.

The development of a strategy to conserve oak mixed woodlands has also been highlighted, as researchers state fragmentation is increasing due to distribution far from their natural points. ‘Management practices mimicking natural structural development will better protect authentic forest-related biodiversity,’ says Onaindia. ‘Controlled clear-cutting is necessary to conserve the cover of the species that are characteristic of the natural woodland.

Moreover, nemoral species, such as Yellow Archangel and the Scaly Male fern, are particularly sensitive to disturbance and should be considered as species to protect. Hence, for sustainable forest management, it is necessary to maintain the plots of natural forest among the remaining plantations to promote the colonisation of natural forest species.’