Best Practice Knowledge Base
2.4 Retention forestry
Retention forestry experiment in Schwarzwald, Germany © Hernán Serrano-León
Retention forestry is a silvicultural approach that preserves specific structural elements of forests, such as live and dead trees, during harvesting operations to maintain ecological functions and biodiversity. By retaining these features, the method supports habitat continuity for various species, enhances structural diversity, and facilitates ecosystem processes similar to those in natural forests. This practice is applicable across different forest biomes and complements conservation efforts while taking into account timber production.
I. Books or book chapters
| Nº | Title | Author | Chapter | Chapter author | Year | Focus region | Language | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Integrative approaches as an opportunity for the conservation of forest biodiversity | Kraus & Krumm | 1.6 Retention forestry: an integrated approach in practical use | Gustafsson et al. | 2013 | Europe | English | Basic knowledge of retention forestry and some management suggestions. | https://research.edgehill.ac.uk/ws/files/20073515/InFocus-Integrate-complete-final.pdf |
| 2 | Saproxylic Insects. Zoological Monographs, vol 1. | Ulyshen | Conservation of Saproxylic Insect Diversity Under Variable Retention Harvesting | Lee et al. | 2018 | World | English | This chapter reviews findings from large-scale variable retention experiments on the impacts on saproxylic insects. | https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75937-1_19 |
II. Scientific articles
| Nº | Title | Author | Year | Focus region | Language | Type | Summary | Link |
| 1 | Retention as an integrated biodiversity conservation approach for continuous-cover forestry in Europe | Gustafsson et al. | 2020 | Europe | English | Narrative review | Review on ecological and socio-economic frameworks of retention approaches in Continous cover forestry | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01190-1 |
| 2 | Deadwood on clearcut sites during 20 years after harvests: The effects of tree retention level and prescribed burning | Nirhamo et al. | 2023 | Finland | English | Experiment | Patterns of tree mortality and deadwood dynamics following tree retention and prescribed burning in Finnish boreal forests | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.121287 |
| 3 | Retention Forestry to Maintain Multifunctional Forests: A World Perspective | Gustafsson et al. | 2012 | World | English | Narrative review | Review on retention forestry's ecological role and its current practices | https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2012.62.7.6 |
| 4 | Simulated long-term effects of varying tree retention on wood production, dead wood and carbon stock changes | Santaniello et al. | 2017 | Sweden | English | Modelling approach | Long-term simulation of retention effects on timber production, deadwood and carbon sequestration in Sweden | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.06.026 |
| 5 | Evaluating the effectiveness of retention forestry to enhance biodiversity in production forests of Central Europe using an interdisciplinary, multi-scale approach | Storch et al. | 2020 | Central Europe | English | Conceptual review | Evaluation of retention forest in Central Europe through the ConFoBi project | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6003 |
| 6 | Can retention forestry help conserve biodiversity? A meta-analysis | Fedrowitz et al. | 2014 | Europe & North America | English | Systematic review | Meta-analysis on retention forestry effects on biodiversity in temperate forests of Europe and North America. | https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12289 |
| 7 | Ecological perspectives on variable retention forestry | Martínez Pastur et al. | 2020 | World | English | Narrative review | Overview of the concepts and applications related to variable retention forestry implementation around the world | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-020-0215-3 |
| 8 | Evaluating retention forestry 10 years after its introduction in temperate forests regarding the provision of tree-related microhabitats and dead wood | Großmann et al. | 2023 | Germany | English | Observational study | Effects of retention forestry on microhabitats and deadwood abundance | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-023-01581-w |
| 9 | Structural elements enhanced by retention forestry promote forest and non-forest specialist bees and wasps | Rappa et al. | 2023 | Germany | English | Observational study | Effects of retention forestry on biodiversity of bees and wasps | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120709 |
| 10 | Potential Recolonization Benefits of Retention Forestry Practices | Loehle et al. | 2021 | North America | English | Narrative review | Review of recolonization responses of animals, plants and fungi to retention forestry practices | https://doi.org/10.1093/forsci/fxaa054 |
| 11 | Retention forestry as a major paradigm for safeguarding forest biodiversity in productive landscapes: A global meta-analysis | Mori & Kitagawa | 2014 | World | English | Systematic review | Quantitative evaluations of retention forestry effectiveness across biomes and taxa. | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.04.016 |
| 12 | The Influence of Various Silvicultural Treatments and Forest Operations on Tree Species Biodiversity | Latterini et al. | 2023 | World | English | Narrative review | Review on the impacts of several management practices, including retention forestry, on tree biodiversity. | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-023-00179-0 |