Passive approaches to increase CWD can rely on densitydependent
(competition driven) and density-independent mortality.
Density-dependent mortality as a result of self-thinning is
particularly high in young even-aged stands or groups. Ferguson
and Archibald (2002) showed that the basal area of dead standing
trees was closely related to the amount of live tree basal area in
fire-origin boreal forests of northwestern Ontario. Thus, what
might be a suitable practice to promote late-successional understorey
(see above) is also suitable for the passive creation of dead
wood (e.g. Vanderwel et al., 2006). However, a large proportion of
this material may be small in size, and therefore unsuitable for
particular types of saproxylic organisms.