Ecological management is gaining acceptance as an encompassing philosophy in forest resource management. In keeping with this new paradigm, the Canadian Standards Association is creating a forest certification process to ensure that forest products are generated through sustainable forestry. However, a great deal of research is needed to develop and assess soil indicators of ecological sustainability. This paper discusses the role and usefulness of microbial indicators of soil quality in the ecological management of forests and the forest certification process. Suitable microbial indicators of soil conservation should be closely linked to critical ecological processes, should be documented properly across various ecosystem types, should be easy to use, and must evolve with new scientific knowledge. Key words: ecological management, soil quality, criteria and indicators, Canadian Standards Association, soil microorganisms, fire

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Ectomycorrhizae formation, seedling health index, and seedling survival were assessed for two-year-old nursery-grown seedlings of Pinus resinosa and Pinus strobus two months after planting in clear-cuts that had received prescribed burning under different fire intensities. Controls consisted of seedlings planted in unburned clear-cuts. Fire intensity positively correlated with percent ectomycorrhizal roots for P. strobus but not for P. resinosa. Seedling health index and survival were highest in burned-over sites as compared to control sites for both pine species. Fire intensity correlated with seedling health index for P. strobus but not for P. resinosa. Fire intensity correlated with seedling survival for both species. Colonization of seedlings by ectomycorrhizal fungi did not correlate with seedling health index or seedling survival. P. resinosa seedlings planted in burned-over sites had a smaller number of lateral roots per unit length primary/secondary roots compared to seedlings planted in control plots.

Understorey vegetation in boreal and subboreal ecosystems is critical to ecosystem dynamics by contributing to nutrient cycling, soil aggregation, and soil fertility. As well, it provides habitat for animals and microorganisms and creates suitable microsites for the regeneration of tree species. Within a context of holistic or ecological management, it is important to understand the dynamics of understorey vegetation after disturbance. However, there is a lack of information on the effect of disturbance on plant diversity. Regeneration of plant communities in postdisturbance boreal and subboreal ecosystems is discussed with particular reference to (i) current knowledge of buried seeds (soil seed banks) and vegetative propagation, and (ii) the importance of the fire regime on plant regeneration. In future, research should emphasize new methods to measure fire behaviour to predict the effect of fire on plant diversity. As well, a good understanding of plant succession should help the implementation of ecological management of industrial forests.

While increasing attention has been given to issues surrounding biodiversity in recent years, little is known about the diversity of forest soil microorganisms. This is a serious gap in knowledge given the significant roles played by microorganisms in ecosystem functioning. This paper addresses issues surrounding conservation of microbial diversity in forest soils with an emphasis on the impact of fire. Recently developed techniques such as phospholipid fatty acid profiling, DNA reassociation, and carbon substrate utilization will also be reviewed for their applicability to biodiversity research. Future research needs are also discussed.Key words: biodiversity, conservation, forest soils, fire, microbial diversity.