Main projects carried out by the Forhet team

Growth of mixed stands

The growth of mixed forests is modelled at two scales:
•    We analyse growth data from experimental systems, mainly installed in the Orléans forest in sessile oak-Scots pine mixtures. This work provides information on fine mechanisms, such as the impact of spatial structure on growth, or the reaction of one species after a biotic disturbance on the other species.

•    We also model the growth of mixtures in relation to environmental gradients, taking advantage of the wide range of situations in the National Forest Inventory data. This allows us to study variations in interactions with the environment, including climatic factors.
This confrontation of a reductionist approach and a systemic approach allows us to make progress in the generalisation of the phenomena governing the functioning of mixtures.

Dynamics of forest regeneration under cover in relation to the undergrowth. Resource use

The improvement of models (generalisation of growth models, improvement of stand dynamics models, particularly the regeneration phase) requires a better understanding of the functioning of forest systems. We study the sharing of light, water and nutrient resources between different compartments of forest ecosystems. The water factor is of increasing interest in the context of climate change. Our studies are oriented around two management scenarios envisaged by managers in this context:

•    reducing the number of standing trees and/or
•    the management of mixed stands, in particular to reduce the water consumption of the stands.

However, the undergrowth of these more open and therefore more illuminated stands is rapidly colonised by dense vegetation of herbaceous plants and monopolistic shrubs. We study and quantify the consumption of resources (water, mineral elements, light) by this vegetation, depending on the species present. We are assessing its impact on the diversity of the ecosystem (Imprebio project: impact of forest harvesting intensity on biodiversity) and on tree productivity. Finally, we are interested in the interactions between this vegetation and the regeneration of young trees (negative competition or positive facilitation relationships) in order to assess its impact on the dynamics of stand renewal. All of this is simulated in the RReShar model, Regeneration and Resource Sharing, implemented under the Capsis platform, to help in the formulation of new management itineraries.

Growth and modelling of regular stands

The team also carries out modelling work on the growth of pure stands, in connection with the Scientific Interest Grouping "Cooperative data on the growth of forest stands" (the team participates in the Oak, Douglas-fir, Laricio and Heterogeneous Forest Groups). It participates in the IN-SYLVA research infrastructure by contributing its experimental devices and associated metadata databases.
A multi-partner research project has just been completed (2015-2019) on the adaptation of Laricio pine silviculture in France in the context of red stripe disease, an emerging health problem that is developing rapidly (funded by the MAA- DSF).

Ongoing projects:

(Details of the projects can be found in the "Ongoing projects" section)

ISY-BIOC
Identification of silvicultural itineraries reconciling biomass production, soil biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in the soil
2019-2021

SyCoMore
Precision and connected silviculture
Mars 2021 - juin 2024

Tamobiom
Testing and appropriation by operational actors of new technical and economic models for a sustainable harvest of forest biomass
2019-2021

Past projects:

(Details of the projects can be found in the "Past projects" section)

DEFIFORBOIS
Development and sustainability of the forestry and wood industry in the Centre region
2016-2020