Marta Vergarechea
Research Scientist
Biography
I am a forest researcher working at the interface of forest ecology, modelling, and decision support. I hold a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Forest Engineering from the University of Valladolid and a Ph.D. in Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Systems from INIA-CIFOR, where my research focused on mixed forest dynamics and climate–growth relationships.
My current work focuses on forest modelling, machine-learning approaches for growth and mortality prediction, and optimization tools for forest management planning, with a particular focus on ecosystem services. I work extensively with National Forest Inventory data, dendrochronological information, and forest simulation frameworks to analyse forest dynamics and evaluate trade-offs among multiple objectives under different management and climate scenarios.
My research aims to strengthen the link between advanced modelling methods and practical decision-support tools for multifunctional and climate-resilient forest management.
Authors
Marta Vergarechea C Antón-Fernández J.U Jepsen Ole Petter Laksforsmo Vindstad Nicolas Cattaneo J.J Camarero Rasmus AstrupAbstract
resilience. In Norway, birch species (Betula pendula and Betula pubescens) dominate large areas of boreal forest, yet large-scale patterns of their age distribution and growth dynamics remain poorly quantified. Using increment core data from 2818 trees sampled across the Norwegian National Forest Inventory, spanning five vegetation zones (58–71◦N) and a broad productivity gradient, we analyzed the drivers of birch age structure and growth variation across age classes and historical cohorts. Intermediate-aged trees (35–80 years) dominated most regions, whereas older individuals were scarce, particularly on productive sites, reflecting the combined effects of forest management and the life-history strategy of fast-growing pioneer species. When compared at equivalent biological ages, younger trees consistently showed higher basal area increment (BAI) than older trees, with differences strongest during early development and on productive sites. Cohort analyses showed a pronounced long-term increase in juvenile growth: mean BAI during the first ten years after reaching breast height increased steadily across successive cohorts over the past 150 years. This increase became more pronounced after ~1960 and was consistent across vegetation zones and site productivity classes. Although sampling and survivor bias cannot be fully excluded, the consistency across environmental gradients points to broad-scale changes in early growth dynamics of birch forests in Norway. These results underscore the importance of considering both age structure and cohort-related variation when interpreting forest dynamics and planning future management.
Authors
Marta VergarecheaAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Ignacio Sevillano Aksel Granhus Clara Antón Fernandéz Heleen de Wit Fride Høistad Schei Rannveig Margrete Jacobsen Ulrika Jansson Asplund Heikki Korpunen Christian Wilhelm Mohr Jenni Nordén Jørund Rolstad Svein Solberg Ken Olaf Storaunet Marta VergarecheaAbstract
There is an increasing interest in continuous cover forestry (CCF) as an alternative to clearcutting to promote multi-objective forests and preserve continuous maintenance of forest cover. Here, we assessed the effect that an increased use of CCF harvesting methods (shelterwood and selection cutting) in Norwegian forests can have on carbon sequestration. Thus, we simulated CO2 uptake in Norwegian forest stands throughout the 21st century under three scenarios that represent different levels of clearcutting and CCF harvesting methods, keeping the annual harvest volumes constant across all scenarios. The three scenarios are: 1) Business-as-usual (reference scenario where 3.5% of the harvested volume is obtained using CCF harvesting methods); 2) Harvested volume using CCF harvesting methods is increased to 15%; 3) Harvested volume using CCF harvesting methods is increased to 25%. Increasing the proportion of CCF would increase CO2 removals in the long-term (2100), resulting in an additional uptake of nearly 32 and 24 Tg CO2 when increasing CCF up to 25% and 15%, respectively. However, the simulations also showed that to be able to harvest the same timber volume as in the reference scenario that reflects current practice, an increased proportion of CCF would also require logging on a larger proportion of the forest area. CCF could have also positive implications for certain aspects of biodiversity, such as species that require shaded conditions, but harvesting across a larger total area could negatively impact other animals, plants and fungi.
