INTRODUCTION

Forests are naturally regenerated either via sexual reproduction or by vegetative propagation. In the first case, the production of seeds, their germination and the establishment of seedlings can be encouraged by several silvicultural techniques.

On the other hand, regeneration of many species can occur by growth and development of the meristematic centres located at the stump or root levels. The sprouts and suckers thereby produced give rise to a forest stand called coppice; sometimes, within coppice stands some trees are left uncut for a maximum of three to four consequent harvests, to provide some regeneration from seeds, in order to replace the declining stumps. These trees left for sexual reproduction are called standards. Coppice and coppice-with-standards are old silvicultural systems, widely used for firewood and timber production in Southern Europe. They have received renewed attention in recent years because they represent a valid option for new silvicultural goals such as fast growing biomass plantations (Ferm & Kauppi, 1990) and tropical agroforestry systems (Stewart, 1980).