Economic and ecologic advantages of small scale structured beech close-to-nature forest management: the case of group selection system

The District Forestry of the Duchy of Lauenburg (Schleswig-Holstein) changed silvicultural system in beech forests from 'shelterwood with delayed clearance' to 'group selection felling' due to economic, political and nature conservation reasons. The comparison of both systems showed advantages of group selection system regarding growth of valuable large diameter trees and higher overall income of