Considering evolutionary processes in adaptive forestry

Abstract

Managing forests under climate change requires adaptation. The adaptive capacity of forest tree populations is huge but not limitless. Integrating evolutionary considerations into adaptive forestry practice will enhance the capacity of managed forests to respond to climate-driven changes. & Aims Focusing on natural regeneration systems, we propose a general framework that can be used in various and complex local situations by forest managers, in combination with their own expertise, to integrate evolutionary considerations into decision making for the emergence of an evolution-oriented forestry. & Methods We develop a simple process-based analytical grid, using few processes and parameters, to analyse the impact of forestry practice on the evolution and evolvability of tree populations. & Results We review qualitative and, whenever possible, quantitative expectations on the intensity of evolutionary drivers in forest trees. Then, we review the effects of actual and potential forestry practice on the evolutionary processes. We illustrate the complexity of interactions in two study cases: the evolutionary consequences for forest trees of biotic interactions and of highly heterogeneous environment. & Conclusion Evolution-oriented forestry may contribute adapting forests to climate change. It requires combining short-term and long-term objectives. We propose future lines of research and experimentation.

Mediterranean forests, land use and climate change: a social-ecological perspective

“…These disturbances will put at risk a number of important ecosystems services (Schroter et al 2005). In this context, new methods increasing the resistance and resilience of Mediterranean forests have to be developed, including those that harness the full potential of Mediterranean forest genetic resources (Lefèvre et al 2014). For example, Pinus halepensis is particularly sensitive to current and future risks as this species is extremely flammable and can favour the spread of large forest fires (Pausas et al 2008).…”

Genetic differentiation of European larch along an altitudinal gradient in the French Alps

“…Moreover, a variation in tree density (i.e., number of trees per hectare) between the altitudinal levels can also affect the within-altitudinal level seed flow by changing the opening of the canopy and the between-tree competition. In the same vein, a variation in the number of trees between the altitudinal levels can also affect the SGS by the effect of drift, especially if the gene flow is low (Lefèvre et al 2013). Finally, the kinship and spatial relationships at intraaltitudinal levels may be modified if individuals are nonrandomly removed from the population, either as the result of natural selection or of human intervention.…”

Nature-based Solutions: New Influence for Environmental Management and Research in Europe

“…Examples include innovative planning of agricultural landscapes to increase their multifunctionality; and approaches for enhancing tree species and genetic diversity to increase forest resilience to extreme events. This type of NBS is strongly connected to concepts like natural systems agriculture (Jackson 2002), agro-ecology (Altieri 1989), and evolutionary-orientated forestry (Lefèvre et al 2014 (Hauck and Weisser 2015) are currently being explored to bridge the gap between biodiversity conservation and landscape architecture.…”