Forester Iesalnieks: When Choosing Tree Species, Competitiveness Matters More Than Suitability

Reforestation after clear-cutting is not just a technical task — it is a strategic choice that will affect decades to come. In an interview with Apollo.lv, forester Jānis Iesalnieks explains that planting decisions should be based on several factors, not only on habit or available seedlings.

First, soil conditions must be understood: what grows best in a particular location and what requirements each species has. Second, the future market should be considered: what kind of timber will be in demand in 30, 50 or 80 years, when the forest reaches maturity. Third, climate-related risks such as drought, storms, diseases and other factors must be assessed, as they can affect forest health over its lifetime.

It is also necessary to decide whether planting is needed at all. Sometimes a forest can regenerate naturally, and intervention may be unnecessary or even undesirable.

Iesalnieks stresses a simple but important principle: the question is not whether a particular species can grow in a given place. Many species can survive in a wide range of conditions. What matters more is understanding which species will be the most competitive there — the one that best uses available resources, withstands local conditions and provides the greatest long-term value.

This approach helps avoid mistakes that may only become visible after decades, when correcting them is far more difficult. Reforestation is therefore not only an agronomic procedure, but also a well-considered investment in the future ecosystem and economy. Although every cutting site is different, the underlying principle remains the same: decisions should be made with a long time horizon and site-specific conditions in mind.