Consequences of More Intensive Forestry for the Sustainable Management of Forest Soils and Waters

Hjalmar Laudon,Martyn N Futter,Richard W Lucas,Kevin Bishop,Ryan A Sponseller,Gustaf Egnell,Eva Ring,Peter Högberg,Anneli Ågren

doi:10.3390/f2010243

Abstract

Additions of nutrients, faster growing tree varieties, more intense harvest practices, and a changing climate all have the potential to increase forest production in Sweden, thereby mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration and fossil fuel substitution. However, the effects of management strategies for increased biomass production on soil resources and water quality at landscape scales are inadequately understood. Key knowledge gaps also remain regarding the sustainability of shorter rotation periods and more intensive biomass harvests. This includes effects of fertilization on the long-term weathering and supply of base cations and the consequences of changing mineral availability for future forest production. Furthermore, because soils and surface waters are closely connected, management efforts in the terrestrial landscape will potentially have consequences for water quality and the ecology of streams, rivers, and lakes. Here, we review and discuss some of the most pertinent questions related to how increased forest biomass production in Sweden could affect soils and surface waters, and how contemporary forestry goals can be met while minimizing the loss of other ecosystem services. We suggest that the development of management plans to promote the sustainable use of soil resources and water quality, while maximizing biomass production, will require a holistic ecosystem approach that is placed within a broader landscape perspective.

Highlights

Developing management strategies for the sustainable use of soil and water resources is recognized as a major environmental challenge for future generations [1,2]
Critical to the development of plans that promote the sustainable use of forest soil and water resources is an understanding of the controls over nutrient availability and retention within terrestrial ecosystems
Recent research has shown that clear-cutting can increase both the concentration and total flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in streams of boreal regions [61,62]. Such an increase is important in boreal landscapes, because DOC represents a potentially important flux in the regional C cycle [63], and because DOC acts as an important transport-vector for contaminants such as mercury [64] and persistent organic pollutants [65], and because it represents a major source of energy to foodwebs in downstream lakes [66]

Summary

Introduction

Developing management strategies for the sustainable use of soil and water resources is recognized as a major environmental challenge for future generations [1,2]. The potential combined effect of new forest management approaches and climate change on the long-term sustainability of soil and water resources on soil and water resources needs consideration. One critical management goal is to develop and implement strategies that increase tree biomass yield while maintaining the long-term sustainability of forested landscapes, which is defined here as the ability of the soil ecosystem to support desired rates of biomass production over several rotation periods without significantly affecting water chemistry and/or aquatic biodiversity. The more immediate goal is to provide knowledge that can direct future research efforts and help improve the decision support for forestry and land management communities in order to minimize environmental impacts on soils and waters associated with future biomass production

Impacts of Nutrient Additions

Impacts of Tree Harvesting

Future Research Needs

Findings

Summary