Tree Seedlings Fail to Thrive in Small Clearings

Many tree seedlings planted close to timberline in clearings smaller than 0.1 ha don't survive, and those that do live grow very slowly.

These research results were consistent for subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce planted at several sites scattered throughout south-central British Columbia in the Engelmann spruce - Subalpine fir (ESSF) biogeoclimatic zone.

The small openings were created by shelterwood or individual tree selection harvesting.

Once the opening is over 0.1 hectares, its size has little effect on growth and survival of young trees. Whether the site lies anywhere between 1350 and 1700 metres elevation also fails to determine how well trees grow during their first 6 years after planting. Instead, local climate, such as that influenced by aspect, drives seedling performance. Surprisingly, subalpine fir does just as well as spruce at all locations.