Beech trees • Ecosystems • Forest management

In its youth, a beech tree likes shade. They can establish in the shade of other more light-loving tree species. Conversely, no tree is able to establish itself under a closed crown canopy of beeches. We therefore call beech the climax tree species. It closes the natural forest succession and can maintain it for a very long time, provided that no large-scale and brutal disturbances turn its realm upside down.

This spot is very typical of the forest management of the Sonian forest: all the trees are the same age, same species. In this part you see mono-specific forestry, these are all beech trees.

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