Current silviculture practices as described above ignore, in certain respects, natural ecosystem dynamics. The principal consequence of this approach is that it imposes a cyclical rotation of similarly composed stands, while in the natural system, succession generally involves a transition of stand types. This lack of attention to natural dynamics is in part responsible for some of the forest renewal problems in the region. For example, the objective of regenerating softwood stands with softwood species often necessitates artificial regeneration and chemical or mechanical control of intolerant hardwoods. Plantation establishment, especially on mesic clay soils, is usually hindered by aggressive and abundant competition This competition is particularly abundant in softwood stands where shrub and herb layers dominated
by species that are intolerant to full-light conditions are overtaken by abundant regeneration of adventitious species De Grandpre and On the other hand, management that does not favor growth of the softwood regeneration present in intolerant hardwood stands appears as a net loss As a purely economical measure, some foresters have suggested compensating poor regeneration of softwood stands by conifer enrichment of hardwood stands containing advanced softwood regeneration. Such compensatory exchanges between hardwood and softwood users conflict with rigid legislation requiring regeneration in similar proportions to preharvest conditions. In the longer term, static maintenance of hardwood or softwood stands could induce serious problems in site productivity. Conifer presence diminishes nutrient availability and successive rotations could decrease yields. In the same way, successive rotations of aspen, a high calcium-demanding species could cause deficiencies in calcium and reduced productivity. Moreover, the current silvicultural system could contribute in a reduced abundance of mixed stands. Not only do these stands contribute to ecosystem diversity, but they display a number of interesting characteristics such as lower susceptibility to spruce budworm outbreaks 240 Y. and abundant advanced regeneration Also, because vascular plant diversity is greater
than in softwood forests, mixedwoods may be more resistant to the invasion of pioneer species An increasing number of studies tend to demonstrate that systems showing greatest resistance to perturbations are those having high diversity
In this sense, although mixedwood silviculture may be more complex-and operationally complicated-its adoption could reduce a number of probIems currently experienced with softwood stands. It therefore appears to us that there is a need to develop silvicultural systems which favor the transition, on the same site, from one stand type to another. In the Lake Duparquet Research and Teaching Forest, we are currently experimenting with the use of partial cuts in intolerant hardwood and mixedwood stands as a means of encouraging conifer regeneration Where advanced softwood regeneration is absent, clear-cutting, like fire, will return the stand to intolerant hardwoods. However, where regeneration is present, gradual extraction of a portion of stems from the overstorey resembles the break-up of the aspen overstorey that occurs in natural succession As the softwood proportion of the stand increases, partial cutting should give
way to careful clear-cutting, with measures to protect the advanced regeneration and soil. This method partially mimics the effects of severe budworm outbreaks and assuresth e return of mixed stands. In the longer term, a clear-cut will return the stand to its initial state In such a scenario, the need for plantations is eliminated except to fill-plant skid
trails and in situations close to mills and on fertile sites that justify intensive management and higher silvicultural investments.