Long-term socio-ecological forest research in southeast France

France concentrates its research involving Mediterranean forests and related land-use on a series of long-term study sites meant to assess the effect of historical land-use on the current distribution of forest tree species and on the adaptability of these ecosystems to natural and anthropogenic pressure, including climate change. A case study is presented on the effect of two silvicultural regimes on beech genetic resources in a pair of stands with contrasting management. This case study is part of an EU project, ¿Dynabeech. Effect of silvicultural regimes on dynamics of genetic and ecological diversity of European beech forests: Impact assessment and recommendations for sustainable forestry¿. Each of the five countries involved in this project ¿ Germany, the Netherlands,Austria, Italy and France ¿ has established a pair of Intensive Study Plots (ISPs) in two beech stands with contrasting management. End products of the project include model-analysis of a range of management scenarios. End-users of the project will formulate these scenarios and evaluate the consequences of the model results and the recommendations for their management practice.