Optimizing forest structure for sustainability: a review of structure-based management effects on stand quality.

ABSTRACT: Structure-based forest management (SBFM) has emerged as an innovative silvicultural approach that optimizes the spatial arrangement of trees to emulate natural forest structures and promote sustainability. Despite increasing applications of SBFM, a comprehensive synthesis of its impacts on stand quality and the underlying mechanisms remains lacking. This review synthesizes 126 peer-reviewed studies (2007-2025) to evaluate the multidimensional effects of SBFM on forest stand growth, structure, soil properties, and stability. Evidence indicates that SBFM enhances tree growth by reducing competitive pressure, improves diameter distribution and species mingling, thereby approximating natural stand patterns, and enriches soil carbon and nutrient pools through increased litter input and microbia

SUBMITTER: Liao Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12648026 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature