Importance of dead wood resources for woodpeckers in coniferous stands of the Białowieża Forest

Research in the Białowieża Forest reveals that woodpecker populations, particularly sensitive species such as the Three-toed Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker, thrive in coniferous stands with abundant dead wood resources. The study, conducted across three management zones—primeval unmanaged stands (BNP), partially managed reserves (RES), and heavily managed stands (MAN)—found that woodpecker indices were highest in BNP, where dead standing trees were most dense, and lowest in MAN, where dead wood was scarce. While RES supported the greatest species diversity, its dead wood abundance lagged behind BNP. The findings underscore the critical role of dead wood in sustaining woodpecker populations and suggest that management regulations in Polish nature reserves should prioritize retaining at least 2 m² per hectare of freshly killed spruce after bark beetle outbreaks to preserve biodiversity.

CZESZCZEWIK, D., WALANKIEWICZ, W., MITRUS, C., TUMIEL, T., STAŃSKI, T., SAHEL, M., & BEDNARCZYK, G. (2012). Importance of dead wood resources for woodpeckers in coniferous stands of the Białowieża Forest. Bird Conservation International, 23(4), 414–425. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959270912000354