Open access publications in the SLU publication database

Selective cutting of woody species can support development of graded forest edges with low shrubs at the periphery and increasingly higher shrubs and trees toward the forest interior. Such forest edge profiles are often considered as ideal in infrastructure environments since
they provide valuable ecosystem services while keeping hazardous trees at distance from railways, roads, power lines and houses. In this report BATAG is presented as a robust and easily implemented selective management system adapted to infrastructure environments. BATAG is a Swedish acronym for the most common tree species (Betula pendula/pubescens, Populus tremula, Pinus sylvestris, Alnus glutinosa, Picea abies) in the forest edges along the 610 km railway line between Malmö and Stockholm, Southern Sweden. Analysis of data from random 78 field plots along this railway line indicate that selective cutting of these dominant species halter the development of abrupt edge profiles and supports gradual development of a large diversity of shrub and small trees species. Only basic species knowledge is required, and the management system is therefore easily implemented in practice.