A review of growth and stand dynamics of Acer pseudoplatanus L. in Europe: implications for silviculture

1 Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) is a widespread but minor species throughout Europe but 2 there is a growing interest in using it more widely because of its potentially high economic 3 and ecological values. Silvicultural recommendations for exploiting the potential of the 4 species to the full should aim at producing high quality timber on short rotations. This can be 5 achieved in a number of ways including the creation of mixed-species and structurally diverse 6 stands that will simultaneously increase ecological values. This review synthesises existing 7 knowledge on growth and development of sycamore that may be used as a basis for 8 developing silvicultural recommendations. Sycamore regenerates easily, although competing 9 ground vegetation, damage by browsers and bark stripping by grey squirrels may endanger 10 production of valuable timber. Existing yield models show that sycamore grows rapidly for 11 the first 20-25 years and then slows considerably. Because of its relative scarcity, there has 12 been limited interest in the species for growth model development and this has restricted its 13 inclusion in forest growth simulators. This review shows that there is currently a lack of 14 detailed knowledge about the responses of sycamore to various environmental, ecological and 15 silvicultural factors and this hinders the understanding and management of this valuable 16 broadleaved tree. 17