The impact of salvage logging on herb layer species composition and plant community recovery in Białowieża Forest

Salvage logging in Białowieża Forest, one of Europe's most pristine temperate forest ecosystems, significantly alters herb layer species composition and plant diversity. While overall plant diversity increases post-logging, open-habitat species thrive due to soil disturbance, whereas ancient forest indicator species decline. This trend is exacerbated by the size of clear-felled sites, with larger areas showing greater loss of biodiversity. Despite these changes, the study reveals a strong potential for spontaneous recovery towards deciduous oak-lime-hornbeam forest communities, even after decades of spruce dominance. However, continuous salvage logging and tree planting reduce the likelihood of natural regeneration, threatening the forest's structural complexity and diversity.

Orczewska, A., Czortek, P., & Jaroszewicz, B. (2019). The impact of salvage logging on herb layer species composition and plant community recovery in Białowieża Forest. Biodiversity and Conservation, 28(13), 3407–3428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01795-8