The effects of forest structure on the risk of wind damage at a landscape level in a boreal forest ecosystem

Abstract• The aim of this work was to analyze how the forest structure affects the risk of wind damage at the landscape level in a boreal forest.• This was done by employing: (i) Monte Carlo simulation technique for generating landscapes with different age class distributions, proportions of open areas (gaps), and tree species composition; and (ii) a mechanistic wind damage model, HWIND, for predicting the critical wind speeds at downwind stand edges of open areas (gaps) for risk consideration. The level of risk of wind damage observed at the landscape level was significantly affected by the presence of gaps and old stands. Even a slight increase in the proportion of gap areas or older stands had a significant impact on the total length of edges at risk. As a comparison, variation in species composition (Scots pine and/or Norway spruce) had much smaller impact on the risk of damage.• In conclusion, the effects of forest structure on the risk of wind damage should especially be considered by forest managers in day-to-day forest planning in order to reduce the risk of wind damage both at the stand and landscape level.Résumé• L’objectif de ce travail était d’analyser comment la structure forestière affecte le risque de dommages causés par le vent à l’échelle du paysage dans une forêt boréale.• C’est objectif a été atteint par l’emploi : (i) de la technique de simulation de Monte Carlo pour générer des paysages de différentes distributions de classe d’âge, de proportions des zones ouvertes (trouées), et de composition des espèces d’arbres ; et (ii) d’un modèle mécaniste de dommages causés par le vent, HWIND, pour la prédiction des vitesses de vent critiques au niveau des lisières sous le vent des zones ouvertes (trouées) en relation avec les risques. Le niveau de risque de dommages causés par le vent observé à l’échelle du paysage a été significativement affecté par la présence de trouées et de vieux peuplements. Une augmentation même légère dans la proportion de trouées ou de vieux peuplements a eu un impact significatif sur la longueur totale des lisières à risque. À titre de comparaison, la variation dans la composition des espèces (pin sylvestre et/ou épicéa) a eu beaucoup moins d’impact sur le risque de dommages.• En conclusion, les effets de la structure de la forêt sur le risque de dommages causés par le vent devraient être examinées en particulier par les gestionnaires forestiers pour une planification des opérations forestière au jour le jour, afin de réduire le risque de dommages causés par le vent à la fois au niveau du peuplement et au niveau du paysage.

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