Regeneration by direct seeding—a way to reduce costs of conversion

Many western European countries need less expensive regeneration methods for their Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) forests. Financial returns from timber production have declined severely over the past 15 years and levels of future returns are impossible to predict. Additionally, the increasing frequency of severe windthrow from winter storms has focused more attention on stand stability and has prompted efforts to convert pure Norway spruce forests to broadleaf or mixed stands. Foresters of Forstamt Weissenhorn in Bavaria, Germany implemented a technique for direct seeding beech (Fagus sylυatica L.) and European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Norway spruce stands that costs about 20% of the cost for traditional planting methods and results in a mixedspecies stand (Baumhauer 1996). The direct seeding approach seems to solve an important challenge to restoring off-site and pure Norway spruce plantations in Europe and provides low costs and high stocking density, thereby ensuring high wood quality in the future.