The silver birch is a great species for forest diversification. Long neglected, it accompanies and precedes our forest regeneration efforts and fills in gaps along the way. This ubiquitous pioneer suffers from virtually non-existent silviculture in Wallonia, despite being a widely available resource.
This article popularizes a scientific study that has established productivity curves for the species. It is another step on the road towards birch silviculture that is no longer niche and experimental, but informed and confirmed by research.
The key points are:
- The average annual temperature and soil water reserves are the two main factors that jointly influence its growth.
- Higher temperatures promote productivity as long as water availability is ensured.
- In the coming decades, without taking extreme weather events into account, productivity could increase, especially in the Upper Ardennes.