Land use planning based on the connectivity of tree species does not ensure the conservation of forest biodiversity

Abstract

Amidst rapid global climate change and at a time when many adaptive policies and strategies have been implemented, reductionism in forest management decisions may have detrimental effects on forest biodiversity. Stăncioiu et al. (2018) made an important contribution by assessing forest connectivity based on tree species populations in Romania. Their study concluded that current management policies and inherited guidelines from the past likely promoted the conservation of regional biodiversity. In this viewpoint paper, we present a different perspective on their conclusion. We show that current management policies are threatening biodiversity in Romania, and changes in forest management policies are urgently needed to halt the loss of habitats of protected species. Although recent management policies likely did lead to good tree species connectivity, habitats of protected species are becoming increasingly fragmented by logging. Adopting policies to protect forest habitats of protected species, limiting large-scale salvage logging within protected areas, and restricting road building to reduce forest fragmentation are crucial steps towards the long-term persistence of biodiversity hotspots in the Romanian Carpathians.