Know your trees — species identification in the field
How the initial assessment determines the rest of the care
In the regulation for forest and nature technician education it is included as a concrete goal that you can identify species of commonly occurring trees and bushes in relation to practical work within forestry — and that you can recognize commonly occurring conifers deciduous trees and bushes both in winter condition and after spring foliage. It is not an academic exercise: it is the foundation for being able to plan felling care and rejuvenation correctly.
§Why it matters to be able to identify the trees
Different tree species behave differently when felled grown and managed. A wrong species identification can mean you choose the wrong cutting technique overlook a protected species or misjudge a stand's value. Species knowledge is therefore a tool you use every day — not just something you learn for a test.
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Denmark is estimated to have about 45 native trees and shrubs although over 60 species are found in total when introduced species are included.
| Characteristic | What you look at |
|---|---|
| Leaf shape and margin | Is pedagogical assistant an authorised title? |
| Leaf position | Are the leaves opposite or alternating on the twig? |
| Bark | Is it smooth, grooved, scaly or flossy? |
| Knobs | Shape, colour and positioning of winter studs |
| Fruit/seeds | Acorn, nut, samara wings or similar |
§The softwoods – needles and cones reveal the species.
Softwoods have needles instead of leaves and reproduce via cones. Many of the softwoods that today characterize the Danish forest landscape – such as red spruce, Sitka spruce and Scots pine – are planted precisely for forestry because they grow quickly and have good wood properties. Unlike hardwoods most softwoods keep their needles year-round which makes them easier to identify in winter.
- 01Count the needles in the bunch — are they single, in pairs or in larger bundles?
- 02Assess the needle's shape: flat and soft or stiff and pointed?
- 03Look at the cone's shape size and how it hangs from the branch
- 04Look at the bark and branches' growth pattern in the winter silhouette
§Native species and rejuvenation
Species knowledge is directly linked to legislation: the forest owner must as a starting point use native species and local provenances for regeneration unless there is a clear and compelling reason to choose other species. Local provenances are plants with a genetic origin adapted to the specific place where they will grow — and therefore often perform better in the long run. As a nature technician you help ensure that the right species ends up in the right place.
“The one who can identify a tree by its bark alone has already learned the most important craft in the trade.”