Silvicultural alternatives to conventional even-aged forest management - what limits global adoption?

Abstract

Background: The development of forestry as a scientific and management discipline over the last two centuries has mainly emphasized intensive management operations focused on increased commodity production, mostly wood. This "conventional" forest management approach has typically favored production of even-aged, single-species stands. While alternative management regimes have generally received less attention, this has been changing over the last three decades, especially in countries with developed economies. Reasons for this change include a combination of new information and concerns about the ecological consequences of intensive forestry practices and a willingness on the part of many forest owners and society to embrace a wider set of management objectives. Alternative silvicultural approaches are characterized by a set of fundamental principles, including avoidance of clearcutting, an emphasis on structural diversity and small-scale variability, deployment of mixed species with natural regeneration, and avoidance of intensive site-preparation methods. Methods: Our compilation of the authors' experiences and perspectives from various parts of the world aims to initiate a larger discussion concerning the constraints to and the potential of adopting alternative silvicultural practices. Results: The results suggest that a wider adoption of alternative silvicultural practices is currently hindered by a suite of ecological, economic, logistical, informational, cultural, and historical constraints. Individual contexts display their own unique combinations and relative significance of these constraints, and accordingly, targeted efforts, such as regulations and incentives, may help to overcome specific challenges. Conclusions: In a broader context, we propose that less emphases on strict applications of principles and on stand structures might provide additional flexibility and facilitate the adoption of alternative silvicultural regimes in a broader set of circumstances. At the same time, the acceptance of alternative silvicultural systems as the "preferred or default mode of management" will necessitate and benefit from the continued development of the scientific basis and valuation of a variety of ecosystem goods and services. This publication is aimed to further the discussion in this context.

Managing forests in a changing world: the need for a systemic approach. A review

“…Silvicultural approaches which can be viewed as alternatives to conventional forest management have been developed in various parts of the world, but interest in these alternatives has greatly increased in many regions over the last three decades (Puettmann et al, 2015). In Europe the attention has focused mostly on Close-to-Nature Forestry (CTNF -e.g., Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, ProSilva 2014) or Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF -e.g., UK and Ireland;Wilson, 2013).…”

“…Compared to other recent alternative forest management approaches which have been proposed during the past years in various parts of the world (Puettmann et al, 2015), such as close-to-nature forestry (Jacobsen, 2001), variable retention forestry (Lindenmayer et al, 2012) or ecosystem management (Grumbine, 1994), systemic silviculture takes into account most of the characteristics of forests as complex adaptive systems .…”

“…According to Puettmann et al (2015), alternative approaches aim to maintain or increase the growth potential of the site, thus conforming to traditional sustained-yield paradigms.…”

La silvicultura como herramienta para la restauración de bosques templados

“…En resumen, en las cuatro situaciones señaladas se requerirá de modo fundamental aplicar múltiples estrategias y técnicas silviculturales para restaurar los bosques nativos. En el desarrollo de estos procesos, será necesario buscar alternativas al manejo de bosques coetáneos, paradigma dominante de la silvicultura focalizada histórica-mente en la producción de madera y fibra, dirigiendo a la silvicultura hacia el nuevo paradigma del manejo de bosques como sistemas adaptativos complejos (sensu Puettmann et al 2009, Messier et al 2013), a los que se asocia la silvicultura alternativa (Puettmann et al 2015). Todos los tipos de bosques presentan propiedades de ecosistemas forestales adaptativos complejos (con comportamientos no-lineares y difícilmente predecibles) y, por tal motivo, la silvicultura debiera maximizar las propiedades más importantes de este tipo de sistemas, de manera que: a) sean más diversos en composición y estructura; b) se integren mejor con otros elementos forestales en el paisaje; c) tengan mejor capacidad de auto-regulación; y d) sean capaces de adaptarse a rápidos cambios en las condiciones sociales y ambientales futuras (Messier et al 2013).…”

Aspects of Habitat Use by Birds during Spring in Natural Forests and Non-Native Plantation Forests in the Lower Siret Meadow (Eastern Romania)

“…Maintaining the forest ecological integrity requires silvicultural measures which take into consideration a more "close-to-nature" approach (Schütz, J.P. 1999;Dorren et al, 2004;Bauhus et al, 2013) aiming ai an emphasis on structural diversity and small-scale variability, deployment of mixed species and natural regeneration (Puettmann et al, 2015). Therefore, it is proposed that both forest and protected areas management should follow an adaptative approach in decision making (Dorren et al, 2004), but effectiveness of adaptative management depends on how well objectives are set according to the natural system under management (Smith et al, 2013).…”