Managing tree plantations as novel socioecological systems: Australian and North American perspectives

Abstract

Abstract:Novel ecosystems occur when new combinations of species appear within a particular biome. They typically result from direct human activity, environmental change, or the impacts of introduced species. In this paper, we argue that considering commercial tree plantations as novel ecosystems has the potential to help policy makers, resource managers, and conservation biologists better deal with the challenges and opportunities associated with managing plantations for multiple purposes at both the stand and landscape scales. We outline five inter-related issues associated with managing tree plantations, which are arguably the largest form of terrestrial novel ecosystem worldwide. This is to ensure that these areas contribute significantly to critical ecosystem services, including biodiversity conservation, in addition to their wood production role. We suggest that viewing tree plantations as novel socioecological systems may free managers from a narrow stand-based perspective and having to compare them with natural forest stands. This can help promote the development of management principles that better integrate plantations into the larger landscape so that their benefits are maximized and their potential negative ecological effects are minimized.Key words: novel ecosystems, tree plantations, novel management, landscape conservation, biodiversity conservation, forest management.Résumé : Des écosystèmes nouveaux apparaissent lorsque de nouvelles combinaisons d'espèces se forment dans un biome particulier. Ils résultent en général directement de l'activité humaine, de changements environnementaux ou des impacts d'espèces introduites. Dans cet article, nous soutenons que le fait de considérer les plantations forestières commerciales comme des écosystèmes nouveaux a le potentiel d'aider les décideurs politiques, les gestionnaires des ressources et les biologistes de la conservation à mieux faire face aux défis et opportunités associés à la gestion des plantations à des fins multiples tant à l'échelle du peuplement que du paysage. Nous présentons cinq enjeux interdépendants associés à la gestion des plantations forestières qui constituent sans doute la plus vaste forme d'écosystème terrestre nouveau dans le monde. Le but est de s'assurer que ces zones contribuent de façon significative aux services essentiels de l'écosystème, incluant la conservation de la biodiversité en plus de leur rôle dans la production de matière ligneuse. Nous croyons que le fait de considérer les plantations forestières comme des écosystèmes socio-écologiques nouveaux peut libérer les gestionnaires d'une perspective étroite fondée sur le peuplement et les exempter d'avoir à prendre comme point de comparaison des peuplements de forêt naturelle. Cela peut contribuer à promouvoir le développement de principes d'aménagement qui intègrent mieux les plantations dans le paysage plus large de telle sorte que leurs bénéfices soient maximisés et que leurs impacts écologiques potentiellement néfastes soient minimisés. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mot...

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