Artificial forest restoration in the French Massif Central using alternative methods to control grass-induced competition
Résumé
For the last decades and particularly after the windstorm of 1999 which destroyed thousands of ha of even-aged monospecific coniferous area stands (Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris), efforts have been made in French Massif Central to restore mountain forest with broadleaved trees. In such area, natural regeneration of broadleaved forest is often compromised by the absence of parent trees in the vicinity and resorting to artificial regeneration is needed. After disturbances such as windstorm, a high level of light favours the development of a very fast growing competitive vegetation which quickly begins to interact with tree seedlings. This study aims to compare the efficiency of alternative and classical vegetation control methods to establish broadleaved seedling and to characterize competitive abilities for resources of sown and spontaneous plants.