Science-based management of forest soil disturbance

Abstract

The challenge for all agencies managing public or private forest lands is to develop resource management policy and procedures based on the best available information. Science-based resource management occurs through an adaptive management process that includes three types of monitoring: implementation (compliance), effectiveness, and validation (research). Continued research, and the establishment of new trials is required to support soil conservation efforts and to investigate new concerns, such as climate change, bio-fuel harvest, and changing practices. Cooperative scientific networks and other collaborations are required to secure benefits from a common approach to soil disturbance management and reporting under various provincial/state, national and international sustainability protocols such as the Montréal Process. The technical session on Forest Soil Disturbances at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Soil Science in Banff, Alberta, is one step in collaboration, and brought together a group of experts from across Canada, and some from the United States of America, to share knowledge and experience and to discuss issues related to soil disturbance effects, policies and practices on forest lands. Selected papers are presented in this special issue on Forest Soil Disturbance, with this background paper focusing on the types of scientific support activities needed for science-based management of forest soil disturbance. Key words: Soil compaction, adaptive management, soil conservation, Montréal Process, natural resource management, monitoring