Forests are vital as they support biodiversity, provide ecosystem services, and generate income, among other benefits. But how can we balance these varied and often conflicting needs? A global research team, led by the University of Göttingen, sought to answer this question by investigating the impact of adding commercially valuable native and non-native conifer species, particularly Norway spruce and Douglas fir, to beech forests in Germany.
Forests are essential for biodiversity, ecosystem services, income generation, and much more. How can we address these varied and often conflicting needs? An international research team from the University of Göttingen explored this issue by examining the effects of enhancing beech forests in Germany with economically valuable native and non-native conifer species, specifically Norway spruce and Douglas fir. Their findings indicated that increasing species diversity in beech forests, which generally have a limited variety of tree species, does not automatically lead to a decline in species richness or ecosystem functions. On the contrary, their results showed positive outcomes across multiple areas such as biodiversity, ecosystem health, and economic sustainability, especially when beech was combined with Douglas fir. This research was published in Science Advances.
The researchers utilized a distinctive empirical dataset derived from 40 plots of mature European beech forests situated in Lower Saxony, Germany. They consolidated information from 11 different projects, each exploring various facets of European beech forests supplemented with conifers. The research examined seven biodiversity indicators—ranging from canopy arthropods and birds to soil-dwelling fungi and creatures; eight ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling processes involving soil carbon and nitrogen levels as well as aboveground tree biomass; and six economic functions, including immediate and short-term financial returns, tree longevity, and future wood volume. This comprehensive approach allowed the researchers to integrate multiple viewpoints for better insights.
The findings revealed that mixed forests containing both beech and Douglas fir showed enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem functionality alongside improved economic results when compared to pure beech stands. “While there are significant concerns about the environmental risks of introducing non-native species,” states Dr. Larissa Topanotti, “our research indicates that it can be beneficial for biodiversity, ecosystems, and economies—a win-win-win scenario. It is, however, crucial to carefully consider the species chosen, the spatial scale, and the existing forest conditions.”
“Expanding the variety of species to include more native types and those that can withstand climate change is critical for the future,” notes Dr. Nathaly Guerrero-RamÃrez. Professor Carola Paul emphasizes: “Our study offers compromise solutions for addressing the growing and diverse demands placed on forests and their management by society.”
This research was made possible in part due to support from the German Research Foundation (DFG).
