Forest biodiversity in a changing climate: which logic for conservation strategies?

Abstract

Climate change has direct and indirect impacts on forest ecosystems worldwide. In this context, changing site conditions and altered disturbance regimes as well as forest management responses are challenging the conservation of biodiversity in forests. Climate-induced dynamics and uncertainties related to future forest ecosystem development are calling into question current conservation strategies and concepts. Given the longevity of trees, slow development rates of forest ecosystems and slow migration rates of many forest species, the planning of adaptation measures in response to climate change are especially difficult though highly important for forest biodiversity conservation. This paper introduces a special issue with eight contributions which deal with a variety of aspects of forest biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change. More specifically, the papers address direct impacts of climate change on forest biodiversity, adaptation measures for forest and conservation management, as well as resulting challenges for conservation strategies and concepts. In conclusion, adaptation measures that enhance diversity and provide different options for future action, thereby maintaining ecosystems' resilience, as well as conservation management operating on a landscape level, are promoted as being beneficial for coping with uncertainties related to climate change. Adaptive management, which constantly reviews conservation goals and measures, and which takes into account both science-based and local ecological knowledge on climate change can be a valuable tool to inform decisions for forest biodiversity conservation.

Climate change impacts and adaptation in forest management: a review

“…The implications of climate change for biodiversity conservation have been subject to extensive analysis (Garcia et al 2014;Vihervaara et al 2013;Schaich and Milad 2013;Clark et al 2011;Heller and Zavaleta 2009;Miles et al 2004). An integrated analytical approach, considering both impacts on species and habitat is important.…”

Comparison of ecosystem services from mixed against monospecific forests in the Southwest Germany: A survey on public perception

“…[1] stakeholder groups [2] level of education [3] resident of the Black Forest region [4] gender [5] age [6] frequency of forest visit [7] forest ownership [8] pleasantness, [9] sense of home [10] frequency of big and old trees.…”

“…[1] respondents' preferences between mixed and monospecific forests of silver fir and beech [2] respondents' perception on ecosystem services provided by mixed versus monospecific forests of silver fir and beech and [3] respondents' social profile.…”

The forest biodiversity artery: towards forest management for saproxylic conservation

“…Forest ecosystem management at the stand level is a laudable objective, but alone it cannot ensure landscape biodiversity conservation (Bergeron et al 1999). Hence, overcoming the concept of stand is fundamental to increase forest landscape permeability, favoring habitat diversity and reducing intensive land uses (Schaich & Milad 2013), as well as being flexible enough to accommodate wood market modifications (Seidl & Lexer 2013). The coordinated management of the components of a forest landscape ensures a more cost-effective and longterm use of conservation resources (Brume lis et al 2011).…”

“…Species that require resources which have become rare in productive forests, such as large deadwood and open canopy areas , may face a high risk of extinction. The uncertainties associated with future climate and anthropogenic stresses make the development of new forest conservation strategies imperative (Milad et al 2011, Schaich & Milad 2013.…”