A change in management objectives towards encouraging
development of old-growth structures requires a shift in management
approaches and practices. In stands where management was
highly intensive and successful at homogenizing composition and
structure, this shift requires a longer time period for successful
‘‘transformation’’ or ‘‘conversion’’ (Kenk and Guehne, 2001;
Kuuluvainen et al., 2002). In many parts of Finland, for example,
aspen has been removed almost completely, and considerable
effort is required to bring large aspen trees back (Vanha-Majamaa
et al., 2007). However, stands in which management was not
aimed at, or was unsuccessful at homogenizing composition and
structures may have many of the desired structural attributes
already, and thus require less restoration effort