Simulating the Effects of Intensifying Silviculture on Desired Species Yields across a Broad Environmental Gradient
TL;DR: In this article, the applicability of a mechanistic model, ZELIG-CFS, to simulate yields and species compositions was examined using the NEBIE (a silvicultural intervention scale) plot network from across Ontario, Canada.
Abstract: In the past two decades, forest management has undergone major paradigm shifts that are challenging the current forest modelling architecture. New silvicultural systems, guidelines for natural disturbance emulation, a desire to enhance structural complexity, major advances in successional theory, and climate change have all highlighted the limitations of current empirical models in covering this range of conditions. Mechanistic models, which focus on modelling underlying ecological processes rather than specific forest conditions, have the potential to meet these new paradigm shifts in a consistent framework, thereby streamlining the planning process. Here we use the NEBIE (a silvicultural intervention scale that classifies management intensities as natural, extensive, basic, intensive, and elite) plot network, from across Ontario, Canada, to examine the applicability of a mechanistic model, ZELIG-CFS (a version of the ZELIG tree growth model developed by the Canadian Forest Service), to simulate yields and species compositions. As silvicultural intensity increased, overall yield generally increased. Species compositions met the desired outcomes when specific silvicultural treatments were implemented and otherwise generally moved from more shade-intolerant to more shade-tolerant species through time. Our results indicated that a mechanistic model can simulate complex stands across a range of forest types and silvicultural systems while accounting for climate change. Finally, we highlight the need to improve the modelling of regeneration processes in ZELIG-CFS to better represent regeneration dynamics in plantations. While fine-tuning is needed, mechanistic models present an option to incorporate adaptive complexity into modelling forest management outcomes.
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TL;DR: In this paper , the authors measured the biomass of the stems of 3, 699 trees of 3 699 species of Scots pine, Norway spruce, and silver birch in Europe since 1950 and showed that these tree species show a reduction in biomass and wood density.
Abstract: Based on the measurements of the biomass of the stems of 3 699 trees of Scots pine, Norway spruce, and silver birch in Europe since 1950, it has been shown that these tree species show a reduction in biomass and wood density. These results contradict the fact that the volume of wood is directly converted to biomass using the historical values of the conversion rates. From 1950 to 2020 the biomass of 1 m3 of the stem with bark decreased on average by 80 kg (–17%) for Scots pine, by 105 kg (–22%) for Norway spruce and by 92 kg (–15%) for silver birch. The results obtained should be taken into account when assessing the technical properties of wood and estimating carbon sequestration by forest biomass. Since decreasing trends in stem biomass have been identified for several tree species, the phenomenon may have a large degree of generality. Such studies should be continued both at the regional and national level and at the global level.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the development of simulation models of the dynamics of forest ecosystems has been an active area of research in the field of forest ecology, and the authors propose a simulation model for forest ecosystems.
Abstract: The development of simulation models of the dynamics of forest ecosystems has been an active area of research [...]
1 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the authors present a comparison of agent-based and simulation-based approaches to simulate plantations and forests, showing that the hybrid simulation model is useful as an illustration of interactions between each sub-system taking into account influential input variables.
Abstract: Plantation and forestry systems consist of several dynamic subsystems as well as complexes that are integrated. Plantation and forestry productivity is largely determined by the interactions of each of these sub-systems. Simulation models can illustrate interactions between sub-systems in detail to be analyzed and evaluated in predicting any conditions that may occur. The model is indispensable because it leads to significant savings in time and money. This article is compiled by selecting and analyzing the previous research methods selected to draw conclusions on interactions between sub-systems to achieve effective and efficient plantation productivity. The final results show that how sub-systems affect forestry and plantation productivity can be demonstrated by hybrid simulation models. Therefore, hybrid simulation methods can be used to determine the integration process of each party in affecting the productivity of plantations and forests. The hybrid simulation model incorporated in two distinct approaches, namely Agent Based Modeling and System Dynamics. The models of hybrid simulation are useful as an illustration of interactions between each sub-system taking into account influential input variables.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors used the NEBIE (natural disturbances and extensive, basic, intensive, and elite silviculture intensities) plot network, consisting of field sites across different forest types that originated from a range of Silviculture systems to assess the role of silvicultural intensity on exotic plant diversity.
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TL;DR: The principles of ecological succession bear importantly on the relationships between man and nature and needs to be examined as a basis for resolving man’s present environmental crisis.
Abstract: The principles of ecological succession bear importantly on the relationships between man and nature. The framework of successional theory needs to be examined as a basis for resolving man’s present environmental crisis. Most ideas pertaining to the development of ecological systems are based on descriptive data obtained by observing changes in biotic communities over long periods, or on highly theoretical assumptions; very few of the generally accepted hypotheses have been tested experimentally. Some of the confusion, vagueness, and lack of experimental work in this area stems from the tendency of ecologists to regard “succession” as a single straightforward idea; in actual fact, it entails an interacting complex of processes, some of which counteract one another.
4,419 citations
"Simulating the Effects of Intensify..." refers background in this paper
...Forest managers in boreal and northern temperate forests of Canada commonly predict stand development of planted forests using classical succession theory [17,18], based on which plant communities develop along a linear pathway from initial occupancy by shade-intolerant pioneers to late successional shade-tolerant species [48]....
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Book Chapter•
01 Jan 2013
TL;DR: The authors assesses long-term projections of climate change for the end of the 21st century and beyond, where the forced signal depends on the scenario and is typically larger than the internal variability of the climate system.
Abstract: This chapter assesses long-term projections of climate change for the end of the 21st century and beyond, where the forced signal depends on the scenario and is typically larger than the internal variability of the climate system. Changes are expressed with respect to a baseline period of 1986-2005, unless otherwise stated.
2,253 citations
TL;DR: The boreal forest, one of the largest biomes on Earth, provides ecosystem services that benefit society at levels ranging from local to global, but economic incentives and a greater focus in international fora are needed to support further adaptation and mitigation actions.
Abstract: The boreal forest, one of the largest biomes on Earth, provides ecosystem services that benefit society at levels ranging from local to global. Currently, about two-thirds of the area covered by this biome is under some form of management, mostly for wood production. Services such as climate regulation are also provided by both the unmanaged and managed boreal forests. Although most of the boreal forests have retained the resilience to cope with current disturbances, projected environmental changes of unprecedented speed and amplitude pose a substantial threat to their health. Management options to reduce these threats are available and could be implemented, but economic incentives and a greater focus on the boreal biome in international fora are needed to support further adaptation and mitigation actions.
706 citations
"Simulating the Effects of Intensify..." refers background in this paper
...Disturbances are important considerations, particularly at the landscape scale and under expected climate change, which may result in both boreal and temperate forests being more susceptible to natural disturbances [95,96]....
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TL;DR: Retention forestry is applicable to all forest biomes, complements conservation in reserves, and represents bottom-up conservation through forest manager involvement and link retention forestry with land-zoning allocation at various scales, expanding its uses to forest restoration and the management of uneven—age forests.
Abstract: The majority of the world’s forests are used for multiple purposes, which often include the potentially conflicting goals of timber production and biodiversity conservation. A scientifically validated management approach that can reduce such conflicts is retention forestry, an approach modeled on natural processes, which emerged in the last 25 years as an alternative to clearcutting. A portion of the original stand is left unlogged to maintain the continuity of structural and compositional diversity. We detail retention forestry’s ecological role, review its current practices, and summarize the large research base on the subject. Retention forestry is applicable to all forest biomes, complements conservation in reserves, and represents bottom-up conservation through forest manager involvement. A research challenge is to identify thresholds for retention amounts to achieve desired outcomes. We define key issues for future development and link retention forestry with land-zoning allocation at various scales, expanding its uses to forest restoration and the management of uneven-age forests.
703 citations
"Simulating the Effects of Intensify..." refers background in this paper
...At the stand scale, forest managers typically seek to enhance complexity by leaving biological legacies of post-harvest residual trees [38] and by implementing silvicultural practices that encourage mixed-species planted forests [7,8]....
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TL;DR: Although continuing climate change will likely drive many areas of temperate forest toward large-scale transformations, management actions can help ease transitions and minimize losses of socially valued ecosystem services.
Abstract: Although disturbances such as fire and native insects can contribute to natural dynamics of forest health, exceptional droughts, directly and in combination with other disturbance factors, are pushing some temperate forests beyond thresholds of sustainability. Interactions from increasing temperatures, drought, native insects and pathogens, and uncharacteristically severe wildfire are resulting in forest mortality beyond the levels of 20th-century experience. Additional anthropogenic stressors, such as atmospheric pollution and invasive species, further weaken trees in some regions. Although continuing climate change will likely drive many areas of temperate forest toward large-scale transformations, management actions can help ease transitions and minimize losses of socially valued ecosystem services.
678 citations
"Simulating the Effects of Intensify..." refers background in this paper
...Disturbances are important considerations, particularly at the landscape scale and under expected climate change, which may result in both boreal and temperate forests being more susceptible to natural disturbances [95,96]....
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