Abstract
The implementation of biodiversity conservation measures in forests managed for timber production usually implies trade-offs between ecological and economic objectives. In continuous cover forestry these trade-offs emerge at the scale of selecting individual trees for timber harvesting or habitat retention. Tree selection determines both the economic viability of timber management and the prevalence of tree-related microhabitats, considered a multi-taxon indicator of forest biodiversity. Recent studies find that tree selection is influenced by several factors, such as individual management preferences and goals, professional education and institutional context. To gain a deeper understanding of tree-selection practices in the context of retention forestry, we analyse four tree-selection exercises on silvicultural training sites (Marteloscopes) performed by groups with different professional backgrounds: conservationists, foresters, and students of each. Based on qualitative data from participant observations and group discussions, we explore their decision-making strategies, reasoning, and practices. Our analysis provides novel insights into decision-making processes when implementing conservation measures, especially with regard to dealing with trade-offs and uncertainties. Our findings indicate that tree-selection decisions are not merely the result of cognitive and rational weighing processes. They can be understood as practices requiring experience, professional routine, and intuition. These practices differ across professional cultures. Despite these differences, the participants of the analysed Marteloscope exercises developed an understanding of the other stakeholders’ motivations and restrictions. The setting stimulated a change of perspective that built awareness in many of the participants of their own routines and biases. This may facilitate professional cooperation, cross-disciplinary learning, and the implementation of biodiversity conservation.
Highlights
Forests provide a wide range of goods and ecosystem services and are nowadays subject to diverse demands
Integrated forest management refers to approaches aimed at accommodating multiple forest ecosystem services without segregating uses or giving priority to wood production (Kraus and Krumm, 2013; Winkel, 2008b; Winkel and Jump, 2014)
Through accompanying and observing virtual tree marking on silvicultural training sites (Marteloscopes, see 2.1), we explore decision making in a real-life scenario
Summary
Forests provide a wide range of goods and ecosystem services and are nowadays subject to diverse demands. Integrated forest management refers to approaches aimed at accommodating multiple forest ecosystem services without segregating uses or giving priority to wood production (Kraus and Krumm, 2013; Winkel, 2008b; Winkel and Jump, 2014). Implementing such integrative approaches can be challenging as it often implies dealing with trade-offs. Providing timber for the market versus protecting habitats for biodiversity is a pronounced example for potentially conflicting goals in integrated forest management. Management optimized for timber production frequently results in intensive biomass use, homogenous forest structures; this is often related to a lack of older trees and deadwood, which is associated with biodiversity loss (Messier et al, 2014)
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