State and transition model approach in native forests of Southern Patagonia (Argentina): linking ecosystem services, thresholds and resilience

Abstract

The sustainable use of ñire forests requires knowledge of its dynamics and management to maintain long-term main forest ecosystem services. The aim of this work was to develop a structural-functional state and transition model for ñire forests in southern Patagonia. For this, provincial inventory information was analyzed together with information from permanent PEBANPA plots (plots of Ecology and Biodiversity, natural environments in Southern Patagonia) and studies of ecology and eco-physiology in ñire forests. This allowed the description of plant communities on these ecological sites and the history of natural disturbances. Seven states and 10 negative transitions were described, as well the factors that trigger transitions (levels of grazing, fire and intense logging). Mature forests with low grazing, no extractive activity and complete canopy cover (>70%) correspond to the reference state or condition of greater integrity, and grassland or murtillar (dominance of Empetrum rubrum) with forest loss is considered the most degraded state. Negative transitions determine the threshold crossings associated with the reduction or loss of resilience to the previous or original state. The development of state and transition models allows for early warnings of deterioration and is a tool to achieve more productive and environmental value. ARTICLE HISTORY

(Dis) integrated valuation – Assessing the information gaps in ecosystem service appraisals for governance support

“…Some individual cases also actively pursued decisive and technical design purposes, e.g. Dick et al, 2017;Peri et al, 2017). .…”

Long-term monitoring of thinning for silvopastoral purposes in Nothofagus antarctica forests of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

“…Nothofagus in general and particularly N. antarctica forests were described as resilient ecosystem considering a wide range of natural and anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. Frangi et al, 2015;Peri et al, 2017). The studied forests were converted to pastures in the 50s of the last century by clear-cuts, but abundantly regenerated in the following years resulting in a secondary forests with complete crown cover.…”

“…This remaining crown cover provides protection from desiccating strong winds, improving the microclimatic conditions for understorey plants growth and tree regeneration. However, the thinning not only provides synergies with other forest components, but also produce greater trade-offs with other ecosystem services (Gyenge et al, 2011;Martínez Pastur et al, 2017;Peri et al, 2017) and biodiversity components (Lencinas et al, 2008(Lencinas et al, , 2015Quinteros et al, 2010;Peri et al, 2016a). These changes are poorly studied in the long-term, and can be influenced by changes in the climate conditions (Kreps et al, 2012) or biological threats (e.g.…”

Nexus thinking – how ecosystem services concepts and practice can contribute balancing integrative resource management through facilitating cross-scale and cross-sectoral planning

“…A first set of papers in this issue is motivated on more generalized land-use planning and land management aspects at landscape scale (e.g., Cebrián-Piqueras et al 2017;Pinto-Correia et al 2017;Sil et al 2017;Syrbe et al 2017). Meanwhile a second set of papers is centred on cases where the incorporation of ES concepts supports the implementation of nexus thinking in planning and decision making (e.g., Bezák et al 2017;Grunewald et al 2017;Inkoom et al 2017;Martínez Pastur et al 2017;Matthews and Iverson 2017;Peri et al 2017). The first group of papers comprises the elaboration of methodological frameworks in the search to develop options towards more sustainable landscapes.…”