Long-term tree inventory data from mountain forest plots in France

Area of Science:

• Forest Ecology
• Silviculture
• Forest Biometrics

Background:

• Mountain forests in France are critical ecosystems supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services.
• Understanding forest dynamics under different management regimes is essential for sustainable forestry.
• Long-term monitoring data are crucial for assessing forest health and resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive dataset of repeated tree measurements from permanent plots in French mountain forests.
• To analyze forest structure, dynamics, and growth patterns in relation to elevation and management history.
• To provide a valuable resource for ecological research and forest management practices.

Main Methods:

• Established 63 permanent plots across an altitudinal gradient (800-1942 m) in French mountain forests.
• Collected repeated measurements of tree diameter at breast height (dbh), height, and crown dimensions from 1994 to 2015.
• Included data from both unmanaged stands and stands managed with uneven-aged single-tree or small-group selection cutting.

Main Results:

• The dataset covers forests dominated by European beech, Silver fir, and Norway spruce, with variations in associated species based on elevation.
• Plot densities ranged from 181 to 1328 stems/ha and basal areas from 13.6 to 81.3 m²/ha at plot establishment.
• Data include tree status (living, dead, stump), spatial location, and recruitment over the measurement period.

Conclusions:

• The presented data provide a robust foundation for studying forest dynamics, growth, and mortality in mountain forest ecosystems.
• Comparative analysis between managed and unmanaged stands can inform adaptive forest management strategies.
• This long-term dataset will contribute to a better understanding of forest resilience to environmental changes.