Deadwood Management in Production Forests

The guidelines summarise decades of ecological research demonstrating the crucial role of deadwood in maintaining forest biodiversity, particularly for saproxylic species such as beetles, fungi, bryophytes, lichens, birds, and amphibians. They explain how deadwood supports nutrient cycling, soil stability, natural regeneration, and ecosystem resilience, functions often diminished in intensively managed production forests.

The document provides clear, actionable recommendations for forest managers, focusing on practical measures such as retaining groups of mature trees until the end of their natural life span, preserving large-diameter snags, maintaining fallen logs, and prioritising habitat trees with important microhabitats. It emphasises the value of structural diversity—including variation in decay stages, tree species, diameter size, and sun exposure, as well as the long-term continuity of deadwood availability.

Economic considerations are acknowledged, noting that while deadwood retention may reduce immediate timber revenue, it contributes to ecological stability, soil health, and long-term forest sustainability. The guidelines are designed to be applicable across Central European temperate forests, particularly within the Czech Republic, but also relevant to similar forest types in neighbouring countries.