Forestry in the Face of Global Change: Results of a Global Survey of Professionals

Abstract

Purpose of Review Forests support most global terrestrial biodiversity and contribute to the livelihood of billions of people, but these and other benefits are in jeopardy due to global change. This leads to questions, such as how to address the challenges of global change in forest management, given the lack of knowledge and deep uncertainty about future developments. In addition, many of the impediments to implement adaptation strategies are unknown. Recent Findings Here, we present an overview of results from a global survey of 754 forestry professionals (370 researchers and educators, 227 practicing foresters, 37 policymakers, 64 administrators, and 56 with other or unspecified roles) from 61 countries across 6 continents who were interested in global change issues. These professionals were asked about their opinion regarding three different adaptation strategies: resist, adapt, and transform. Most respondents agreed that the majority of global change factors will negatively influence the ability of forests to provide desired ecosystem services. Similarly, they agreed about major challenges when implementing adaptation strategies and specifically whether our current knowledge base is sufficient. These concerns were not limited to ecological aspects, but respondents also highlighted the need for a better appreciation of social/political and economic barriers, especially regarding transformation strategies. In addition, the response patterns, including differences due to economic status, highlight the importance of developing and evaluating adaptation strategies in a local social–ecological context. Summary Our study demonstrates a widespread perception on the part of forestry professionals around the world, especially among researchers and practitioners, that many global change factors will affect sustainable forest management negatively, resulting in the need for active silvicultural adaption. The results also suggest potential barriers to different adaptation strategies, particularly a relative lack of information and social acceptance for transform strategies. Further, this study highlights the importance of social and political factors and the need to understand the general public’s values regarding adaptation strategies as well as how the influence of public opinion is perceived by forest managers.

Increase in forest structural complexity along a precipitation gradient is mediated by partial harvests in temperate Patagonian forests

“…Managing forests to increase forest structural complexity is becoming a more common goal worldwide 5,15,68 . Such silviculture aims at increasing the resiliency and adaptability of forest following disturbances, while maintaining or increasing forest functions 3,6,7,15,18,69 . The relationship between structural complexity on forest productivity has also been documented 29,32 .…”

“…Thus, our finding provides insights on how forest management can influence future development of stand structures and productivity in the context of the predicted climate change in western Patagonia, i.e., lower precipitation and increasing temperature 74 . Specifically, forest management in Patagonia should avoid additional stressors and promote resistance and resilience adaptation strategies to trigger regeneration as a basis to develop complex structures and productive forest stands [3][4][5][6] .…”

“…These results show the influence of precipitation on SSCI, which resulted in a more diversified stand structure and higher EVI. Such insights support site-specific management aimed to increase forest structural complexity.Forestry in the XXI century deals with challenges that derive from increased amount and variety of societal demands from forests, including the provision of wood, conservation of biodiversity, ensuring sufficient amounts of high quality and quantity of water, and carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change [1][2][3][4][5][6] . In contrast to the main emphasis on wood production in the past, which has resulted in efforts to homogenize stand forest structures, the emphasis on multiple ecosystem services has increased interest in forests with higher compositional diversity and structural complexity [3][4][5]7 .…”