Lack of demographic equilibrium indicates natural, large‐scale forest dynamics, not a problematic forest conservation policy – a reply to Brzeziecki et al.

Brzeziecki et al. 2016 ( Journal of Vegetation Science 27: 460–467.) describe a decrease in population densities and proportion of younger individuals for several tree species in permanent research plots in the core zone of the Białowieża National Park. They attribute insufficient tree recruitment inter alia to the strict protection. Although the authors performed a thorough analysis of tree population dynamics, the scales of the study mean that their far‐reaching conclusions on the causes and consequences of the lack of demographic equilibrium cannot be supported by the data. The inadequate spatial and temporal scales of the study did not allow for the observation of representative population dynamics. Furthermore, they did not compare the results obtained in the strictly protected area with known demographic dynamics of trees in surrounding managed forests or under other forms of nature conservation. Looking from the wider ecosystem perspective, it is clear that strict protection is not a cause for concern and, instead, that such a near‐natural forest manifests population dynamics at rather larger scales.