Disturbance in boreal forest ecosystems: human impacts and natural processes. Proceedings of the International Boreal Forest Research Association 1997 annual meeting; 1997 August 4-7; Duluth, Minnesota.

Abstract

PREFACEEstablishment of the International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA) was proposed in 1990 at the International Conference on Northern Forests in Arkhangelsk, Russia. Theefirst organizing committee meeting was held in June, 1991, in the Ukraine, and by September, 1993, IBFRA membership included all major boreal forest countries: Russia, Canada, . the United States of America, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The current president of IBFRA is Anatoly I. Pisarenko of Russia. -The major purposes oflBFRA are:• To support sustainable development of boreal forests by promoting basic and applied research and other activities relating to-forest ecosystems, forestry, and forest industry; • To promote and coordinate research to increase understanding ofthe role of circumpolar boreal forest in the global environment and the effects of environmental change on that role; • To promote the dissemination and transfer of research results and new technology and the adoption of new methods of forest use, planning, and management, with a view to ensure conservation and sustainable development of boreal forests.The primary formal activity oflBFRA is to promote exchange of research and management information through international scientific conferences. The first IBFRA conference held in Anchor.age, Alaska, USA, in 1992 focussed on "Managing Forests to Meet People's Needs". Since that time, annual conferences have brought together hundreds of Scientists and managers interested in the problems of forest management in the boreal zone, Conferences have rotated among.the majo r boreal forest countries and topics have included: "Classification, inventory and monitoring of boreal forests" (1993; Norway, Sweden); "Boreal forests and global change" (1994; Canada); "Climate change, biodiversity, and boreal forest ecosystems" (1995; Finland); and "Sustainable development of boreal forests" (1996; Russia). In response to growing recognition of the importance of understanding disturbance processes, the 1997 conference reported in this volume focUssed on "Disturbance in boreal forest ecosystems: human impacts and natural processes". Over 100 researchers and managers from eight countries attended the conference. The papers in this volume represent material that was presented at the meeting as either oral talks or poster presentations. The major conference topics were Forest Dynamics and Structure, The Role of Disturbance, and Boreal Forest Management. Production of this volume would not have been possible without the able assistance o f Mary Peterson (NCRS) in developing the cover and finalizing the overall format and structure of the proceedings. Bill Bennett (WO) convl_rted the ' manuscripts to two-column format, inserted tables and figures, and typed in revisions; Sharon Parker (WO) attel_ded to many'of the details involved in final formatting of papers. Papers were edited as necessary for format and to enhance clarity. The overall quality and consistency of the proceedings has been improved vastly as a result of the cooperation of t...