European Union's Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021–2027, Activity 1.1.1.9 "Post-doctoral Research" of the Specific Objective 1.1.1 "Strengthening research and innovative capacities and introduction of advanced technologies in the common R&D system" of the research application No 1.1.1.9/LZP/1/24/40
The Study aims to assess different aspects of forest structural diversity, old-growth status and key indices of biodiveristy for biodiversity protection and development of the solutions for closer-to-nature forest management, using the assessed parameters of old-growth stands of hemiboreal forests in Northern Europe as a benchmark. Assessing natural disturbance processes, carbon carrying capacity, deadwood availability and stand spacial structural diversity in such rich forest ecosystems is crucial for supporting sustainable forest planning. One of the primary values of old-growth forests is a habitat for wildlife, however, studies examining wildlife diversity (mammals, birds, and forest pollinators density) and plant communities’s variation between old-growth and younger forests are still limited.
This Study proposal seeks to address the above-mentioned challenges through the following activities:
- Analysis of old-growth forest stands structural changes and tree mortality patterns in a five-year interval in coniferous hemiboreal old-growth stands on mineral soils.
- Assessment of old-growthness of Norway spruce in hemiboreal old-growth and temperate Carpathian primary forests.
- Evaluation of biodiversity composition differences between mature (control) and old-growth Norway spruce and Scots pine stands in Latvia.
The Study is planned to develop expertise in the much-needed research area related to the holistic assessment of old-growth forests, focusing on stand structural changes, tree mortality, and wildlife diversity, that will be contributing to the excellence and further achievements of old-growth forest research in hemiboreal forest of Europe based on case-studies in Latvia. Also, obtained data will support development of closer-to-nature management practices enhancing biodiversity. For the first time in European hemiboreal forests, the biodiversity-related data from old-growth and control stands will be systematically gathered and analyzed. The research topic aligns with the priority sector of the knowledge-based bioeconomy (forestry), a rapidly growing area within EU scientific research, thereby contributing to the development of scientific excellence in particular aspects of it.