Future Of Forestry Research Articles

Functional traits in soil-living oribatid mites unveil trophic reorganization in belowground communities by introduced tree species

Biodiversity loss and its potential threat on ecosystem functions call for a critical evaluation of human impacts on forest ecosystems. Management practices based on stand diversification offer a possible solution to biodiversity loss due to monoculture plantations, and these practices often involve planting introduced tree species. Although introduced non-native tree species may provide high economic returns, they may also form novel ecosystems and threaten local biodiversity, but this has been little studied. Here, we combined a taxonomic and trait-based approach and investigated communities of oribatid mites (Oribatida, Acari) across forest types of both native and introduced tree species in Northern Germany. Both trophic and life-history traits of oribatid mites were evaluated using native European beech (Fagus sylvatica) as reference, compared to native Norway spruce (Picea abies), introduced Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and beech-conifer mixtures. The abundance and diversity of oribatid mites were generally similar among monocultures of European beech, Norway spruce and Douglas fir. By contrast, species and trait compositions of oribatid mite communities were shifted to include more primary decomposers and more surface-living oribatid mites in Douglas fir, resulting in a trophic reorganization with less predators than in European beech forests. These results suggest that oribatid mites maintain a similar level of trait diversity regardless of forest type, but the changes in trophic guild composition and vertical distribution indicate greater availability of litter-based resources in Douglas fir than in European beech forests. The similar abundance and diversity of oribatid mite communities in Douglas fir mixed stands as in native European beech forests points to mixed forests as a promising management option for future forestry. Overall, our trait-based analyses provided insights into the changes of soil biota composition, revealing the impact of introduced tree species on the structure and functions of soil animal communities.

Predicting regional cumulative effects of future development on coastal ecosystems to support Indigenous governance

Abstract To achieve better biodiversity outcomes and match local governance capacity, cumulative effects assessment frameworks that combine Indigenous and western knowledge to predict future development impacts on biodiversity are needed. We developed a spatial future‐focused model informed by inclusive elicitation and strategic foresight to assess the regional cumulative effects of development on ecosystem health across the land and sea. We collaborated with three First Nations on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada, enabling Indigenous priorities, knowledge and values to drive the process, from the choice of priority ecosystem components (including salmon, herring, seabirds and bears), to identifying future development scenarios (based on forestry, energy/mining, tourism and salmon aquaculture sectors). Bayesian networks were populated with empirical data and expert judgement elicited from knowledge holders to predict the cumulative effects of current and future pressures on species and ecosystems. Under current conditions, the lowest probability of persistence was predicted for Pacific salmon (37%), followed by Pacific herring (43%). Under future conditions, the greatest declines in species health were associated with the intense development of mining, tourism and forestry, with up to a 54% decline from the current baseline health estimates predicted for Marbled Murrelets and old‐growth forest. Future outcomes for overall ecosystem health were predicted to be worst in scenarios with high future forestry activities (>60% decline in some areas). The continuation or development of all four industries resulted in an 8% decline overall in ecosystem health across the Central Coast. In contrast, predicted ecosystem health in the tourism economy scenario increased up to 15% in some marine areas, primarily driven by the removal of salmon aquaculture and forestry activities. Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates an inclusive, regional approach to assessing the cumulative effects of future development on coastal species. The novel participatory tools and predictive framework draw upon and interweave multiple forms of knowledge, enabling Indigenous values to drive the process, and appropriately integrate Indigenous knowledge into regional cumulative effects assessment. Our interactive web application provides First Nations partners access to all outputs, supporting Indigenous‐led governance and in situ ecosystem‐based management of their lands and water.

Adaptive Silviculture and Climate Change—A Forced Marriage of the 21st Century?

Climatic changes significantly impact forest ecosystems, inevitably affecting forestry and forest-related industry. Considering that most forests are actively managed, there is a need to define the future risks and set a strategy for forestry and silviculture in a changing world. This review provides insight into the new challenges and opportunities forest management and silviculture face in the coming decades. There is sound recognition of risk factors expected from climate change, yet great uncertainty exists in the predictions of the response of forests to new conditions. Additionally, the stakeholders’ interests in the goods and services offered by forests are changing, and this also needs to be taken into account in future forest management. Undoubtedly, the goal of future forestry and silviculture in the 21st century will be primarily to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the forest. Sustainable use of goods and ecosystem services from forests will be directly related to the continuity and sustainability of the forest in the future. Adaptive forest management aims to promote the adaptive capacity of forests to new conditions resulting from climate change. If adaptation efforts are effective, adaptive forest management should be a kind of risk management. There is no one-fits-all strategy for adaptation to uncertain future conditions. Silviculture in the 21st century is expected to be more conducive to adapting forests to changes. Operational silvicultural activities should focus on ensuring the resilience and adaptation of forests to future environmental conditions. Modern silviculture offers activities that fall within the scope of contemporary close-to-nature silviculture practices. However, some of the currently applied practices will require review and modification to be applicable under new conditions. This review also identifies the need to fill knowledge gaps in order to develop more effective and flexible adaptation strategies to foster sustainable forest development and, thus, sustainable forestry.

Modern and future forestry based on biotechnology

AbstractForest is the most important terrestrial component of the Earth's biosphere, containing nearly 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. However, climate change and population growth are exacerbating deforestation and forest degradation. Reforestation efforts aim to restore ecosystems, but the effectiveness of traditional tree plantations in repairing the ecological function of native forests is controversial. The ideal scenario for forestry in the future is to meet the growing demand for forest products while keeping forest sustainable development. One possible way forward is to greatly improve the productivity and adaptability of forests through molecular breeding to use fewer Short Rotation Intensive Culture (SRIC) plantations to produce sufficient forest products. In the last 2 decades, advances in biotechnologies such as high‐throughput sequencing and genome editing are transforming tree breeding and forestry. Here, we propose possible future directions for modern forestry, including molecular design tree breeding, agroforestry and mixed farming, sustainable and biosphere friendly forestry.

Reviewed Commentary: Factory-Grown Wood, the Future of Forestry?

Recent developments in factory-grown foods suggest that factory-grown wood (FGW) may be on the horizon. In fact, recent work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology introduces tunable plant-based materials, an early indicator of what may evolve into a new source of raw material for forest sector companies, and others. Industry and academia would be wise to monitor developments in this field as they may present significant opportunities and/or adjustments for both. We explore the state-of-the-art in this budding area of science and contemplate implications of successfully growing wood or other lignocellulosic materials in factories. Given a changing climate and focus on carbon emissions, the pressure to drastically reduce CO2 production will continue climb. Could reduction of their footprint via FGW be an important part of this equation for forest sector companies, going beyond the need to “make every tree count”? In other words, might FGW present an environmental and climate protection breakthrough? Or might it simply trade forest-based environmental impacts for others? What other consequences does FGW promise for companies? And, what might it mean for wood science programs, critical suppliers of research & development and skilled employees for the industry? We explore each of these questions and contemplate potential actions and outcomes.

Research on the future of forestry: A sample of EU

After the industrial revolution, technological developments, unbalanced population growth and excessive consumption have become threatening to the earth. Parallel to the world population, the increasing energy consumption is also increasing rapidly. Increasing energy consumption increases CO2 emissions more and more every day. Considering the temperature increase caused by greenhouse gases, global climate change has become an important problem that concerns the whole world today. Climate change will affect forest resources and the continuity of ecosystem services more in the future. It is necessary to protect forests, which are beneficial in preventing global climate change, and to prevent deforestation. In this study, using the data between 2001 and 2020, data on carbon emissions, per capita national income, annual population growth rate, forest area, exports and imports of European Union countries were used. The data used in the study were obtained from the world bank data, food and agriculture data, and cover the 2001-2020 periods. In the study, the stationarity of the data sets of the variables was tested with the Dickey-Fuller unit root test (ADF). With the help of the model created, predictions for the forests’ future were made by using the variables used in the model for the years 2021-2040. The values obtained were compared with the values of the previous years. When the current data and the estimated values are compared, the population growth rate in EU countries is quite low and sometimes it takes negative values. It has been determined that the CO2 emission and forest area variables of EU countries are close to each other. It is seen that the forest existence of EU countries has increased and CO2 emission has decreased.

Assessment of Drought-Tolerant Provenances of Austria’s Indigenous Tree Species

(1) Background: Forestry will have to react to climate change because many tree species suffer. Mitigation can be realized either by planting non-native trees from regions with high climatic stress or by utilizing native tree provenances already adapted to stressful environments. Non-native trees have often generated problems in the past due to uncontrolled invasiveness. The use of native trees pre-adapted to the prospective climatic conditions is far less risky for the respective ecosystems. We offer a tool for selecting ecotypes of native trees as provenances for future forestry. (2) Methods: We propose the selection of tree species native to Middle Europe from a database of vegetation relevés of ± natural forest stands. By calculating the mean ecological indicator values of stands from their vegetation, cover sites can be elected that can provide seeds of provenances well adapted to future climatic conditions. (3) Results: By selecting the 10% partition of the most extreme stands of European tree species, seeds can be sampled and propagated for re-cultivating forests fit for future climate. (4) Conclusions: One can expect ecotypes of tree species that grow well on dry sites, since generations have faced evolutionary selection, for survival under stressful environments. This approach helps to avoid ecological risks of non-native trees.

A “Serious Game” to Explore Alternative Forestry Futures

Abstract Serious games are designed to achieve specific educational or other practical purposes beyond pure entertainment. These games take many different forms—from card decks to massive multiplayer online games—and have proliferated across diverse fields. This note introduces IMPACT: Forestry Edition, a serious board game designed to help forestry professionals and stakeholders think more broadly, critically, and creatively about the future of forestry. We describe the game and feedback from beta testing and discuss the advantages and potential drawbacks of gaming methods. A “print and play” version of the game is included as supplemental material. Serious games can make an important contribution to forestry by engaging and informing diverse stakeholders and generating insight that other methods cannot.

Policy Design of Government Affairs Distribution in the Future Forestry Sector: A Study in Indonesia

Policy Design of Government Affairs Distribution in the Future Forestry Sector: A Study in Indonesia

Forest owners' future intentions for forest management

Forest owners' intentions to apply alternative management practices were examined to increase the understanding of the factors that influence forest management on non-industrial private forests. Randomly selected Finnish forest owners were surveyed to determine their management intentions for five management practices: traditional management; short rotation management; long rotation management; uneven-aged management; and other management. A fractional multinomial logit model was used to analyse the influence of variables from three factor groups on management intentions: (i) property characteristics and the past experience of forest owners; (ii) beliefs in how well forests are generally managed; and (iii) the socioeconomic characteristics of forest owners. Forest owners intended to use multiple management practices in their forests. The most typical practice was traditional management (51.5% of respondents' total forest area), followed by uneven-aged (25.0%) and long rotation management (15.3%). Our results show that forest owners still maintain the use of traditional even-aged forestry as the most commonly applied forestry practice in Finland, but they intent to use increasingly uneven-aged forestry in future. Several variables influenced on management intentions. For example, men, agricultural entrepreneur and older respondents tended to allocate a smaller proportion of their forest area to uneven-aged forestry. Ongoing socio-economic changes may enforce the change in forest management practices.

RENOVATION OF THE FOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN TERMS OF THEIR INTEGRATION INTO THE MARKET ENVIRONMENT

The article considers modern transformations of forestry in Ukraine, including the specifics of its integration into the market environment. It is shown that the currently formed model of forest use has led to a continuous reduction of forest resources and deterioration of the quality of their structure. It is essential to revise the current model, including the forest management system. Currently, more than two thirds of the country's forest resources are available to the State Forest Resources Agency. However, due to the gradual transfer of the entire forest resource sector to market mechanisms of work, it is necessary to provide in advance to ensure its restoration, as well as the implementation of the most acceptable format of private forest use. The main result of the study is a conceptual vision of the new management structure. Due to the fact that in the future forestry will become more and more dependent on the private sector, the new management model should include exactly those tools that will be appropriate in market conditions. Currently, the State Agency for Forest Resources of Ukraine has very limited tools for such influence. The agency, when transferring the site for use, can only control the final result. However, the actual effectiveness of such control remains extremely low. In conditions when the bulk of wood will belong to private companies, it will be problematic to establish systematic monitoring in the country. That is why an effective economic and environmental mechanism of this type of control should be created in advance. Also, the transfer of forest use in the country requires early regulation of all production stages. That is, without such regulation it will be impossible to ensure proper compliance with the law. The introduction of market mechanisms for forest use should take place simultaneously with the introduction of comprehensive rules for the use of forest resources and the restoration of forest plantations. The main purpose of the article is to formulate the basis of a promising model of forest resources management in Ukraine. The problem is that now this area needs to be reformed and is in transition. The previous model of natural resource use in the country has led to a rapid reduction in the number of forest plantations.

In-stand debarking with the use of modified harvesting heads: a potential solution for key challenges in European forestry

Modern forestry is increasingly confronted with challenges that appear with intensive forest management and the progression of the effects of climate change. The forestry sector is able to react to the changing conditions by adapting management plans, forest structure or planting tree species with a higher stress resistance. However, during stand management activities, silvicultural treatments and harvesting operations can have an impact on the further development of the remaining forest ecosystem. In Germany, the most widely used harvesting system for thinning operations is a single-grip harvester used for felling and processing trees followed by a forwarder for timber extraction from the machine operating trails to roadside. In this research project, debarking rollers and other modifications designed for Eucalyptus harvesting heads were tested on conventional harvesting heads for the first time to assess the possibility of adding debarking to mechanized forest operations under Central European conditions. Seven field tests with varying tree species, diameters and age classes, were established within German state forests in Lower Saxony and in Bavaria. These tests were repeated in both summer and winter seasons to evaluate the influence of associated tree sap flows on debarking quality. Three different harvesting heads were modified to assess the altered mechanical characteristics and setups. To assess debarking ability originating from head modifications, a photo-optical measurement system developed within the scope of the project was used. The results demonstrate that especially for summertime operations, simple modifications to currently used harvesting heads are able to provide an average debarking efficiency up to 90% depending on the modifications. Another key finding is that a negatively affected sap flow, experienced during wintertime operations, resulted in 46% lower debarking efficiency, while spruce bark beetle infestations only resulted in a wider spread of the variation. Additionally, the vertical position of the log within the tree proved to have an influence on debarking efficiency, resulting in 15% lower average debarking for butt logs and 9% for top logs as compared to middle logs. Since a debarking process requires the stem to be fed through the harvesting head on multiple occasions to remove bark, average harvesting productivity might be reduced by approx. 10% compared to productivity measured with conventional harvesting heads. Considering the results and the extent of the modifications, the system proved to be a potential addition to existing harvesting methods facing changing challenges in future forestry.

Soil C and nutrient stores under Scots pine afforestations compared to ancient beech forests in the German Pleistocene: The role of tree species and forest history

In the diluvial lowlands of northern Germany, the Netherlands and northern Poland, an estimated ∼5 Mio ha of Scots pine plantations (Pinus sylvestris) has been established on sandy soil in the last 250years replacing the former temperate broad-leaved forests after extended periods of cultivation in the Middle Ages. We examined the effect of variable stand continuity of pine plantations (recent vs. ancient: 51–128 vs. >230years) on the soil organic carbon (SOC) store and soil nutrient capital in comparison to ancient beech forests (>230years of continuity) which represent the potential natural forest vegetation. Recent and ancient pine stands had c. 75% larger organic layer C stores than ancient beech forests, while the total C stock in the soil (organic layer and mineral soil to 100cm) was ∼25% larger in the beech forests due to higher C concentrations in 0–50cm depth of the mineral soil. The soil stores of Ntot were ∼50% and the exchangeable Ca, K and Mg pools about three times larger under beech than under the pine stands. Resin-exchangeable P was enriched in the soils under ancient pine stands probably due to manuring in the past. After clear-cut and long cultivation, it may take >230years of forest presence to restore the greatly reduced mineral soil C and N pools. The C and N sequestration potential of the soils appeared to be particularly small under pine indicating a pronounced tree species (pine vs. beech) effect on soil C and N dynamics. We conclude that, in the face of rising greenhouse gas emissions, the limited soil C and nutrient storage potential of Scots pine plantations on sandy soils needs consideration when selecting suitable tree species for future forestry.

Nitrogen dynamics in oak model ecosystems subjected to air warming and drought on two different soils

Being tolerant to heat and drought, oaks are promising candidates for future forestry in view of climate change in Central Europe. Air warming is expected to increase, and drought decrease soil N availability and thus N supply to trees. Here, we conducted a model ecosystem experiment, in which mixed stands of young oaks (Quercus robur, Q.petraea and Q.pubescens) were grown on two different soils and subjected to four climate treatments during three growing seasons: air warming by 1-2°C, drought periods (average precipitation reduction of 43-60%), a combination of these two treatments, and a control. In contrast to our hypotheses, neither air warming nor drought significantly affected N availability, whereas total amounts, vertical distribution and availability of soil N showed substantial differences between the two soils. While air warming had no effect on tree growth and N accumulation, the drought treatment reduced tree growth and increased, or tended to increase, N accumulation in the reduced biomass, indicating that growth was not limited by N. Furthermore, (15) N-labelling revealed that this accumulation was associated with an increased uptake of nitrate. On the basis of our results, climate change effects on N dynamics are expected to be less important in oak stands than reduced soil water availability.

Water regime and growth of young oak stands subjected to air‐warming and drought on two different forest soils in a model ecosystem experiment

Global climate change is expected to increase annual temperatures and decrease summer precipitation in Central Europe. Little is known of how forests respond to the interaction of these climate factors and if their responses depend on soil conditions. In a 3-year lysimeter experiment, we investigated the growth response of young mixed oak stands, on either acidic or calcareous soil, to soil water regime, air-warming and drought treatments corresponding to an intermediate climate change scenario. The air-warming and drought treatments were applied separately as well as in combination. The air-warming treatment had no effect on soil water availability, evapotranspiration or stand biomass. Decreased evapotranspiration from the drought-exposed stands led to significantly higher air and soil temperatures, which were attributed to impaired transpirational cooling. Water limitation significantly reduced the stand foliage, shoot and root biomass as droughts were severe, as shown in low leaf water potentials. Additional air warming did not enhance the drought effects on evapotranspiration and biomass, although more negative leaf water potentials were observed. After re-watering, evapotranspiration increased within a few days to pre-drought levels. Stands not subjected to the drought treatment produced significantly less biomass on the calcareous soil than on the acidic soil, probably due to P or Mn limitation. There was no difference in biomass and water regime between the two soils under drought conditions, indicating that nutrient availability was governed by water availability under these conditions. The results demonstrate that young oak stands can cope with severe drought and therefore can be considered for future forestry.

Pyrolysis oils from CO2 precipitated Kraft lignin

A common goal in present and future forestry, biofuels and biomaterials practices, is the need to valorize lignocellulose processes to maximize value and optimize autonomic economy. Consequently, a key focus of modern biorefining is the on-site utilization of all residual materials generating products of the highest possible value. The LignoBoost process, recently demonstrated on the pilot-scale at Kraft pulp mills, injects CO2 into pulping liquors which results in a lower solution pH and thereby precipitates lignin. The present paper compares and evaluates the pyrolysis of pulping liquor lignins precipitated by sulfuric acid (pH 3) and the aforementioned CO2 method (pH 10.5 and 9.5). The CO2 based process yielded lignin that showed superior pyrolysis properties including low gas formation and increased bio-oil yields, close to 40%, consisting primarily of low (∼150 g mol−1) molecular weight compounds. Subsequent NMR analysis showed that the oils exhibit favorable changes in functionalities, e.g. loss of aromatic and gain in aliphatic carbon percentages as well as decrease in carboxyl and methoxyl (oxygen containing) groups. Moreover, NMR results further confirmed previously hypothesized lignin pyrolysis reactions, while at the same time showed the potential of CO2 precipitated lignin for pyrolysis and subsequent liquid biofuel production.

Advancing the role of communications, education, and capacity building in the future of forestry: Communities of practice and community-based learning

The evolution from tree- and stand-level prescriptions over a rotation to estate- and watershed-level plans over many generations requires individuals and teams to understand and apply scientific, indigenous, and experiential knowledge to address complex issues. The solution must achieve the business and landscape objectives and stand up to public scrutiny while being both practical and cost effective. Communication, education, and capacity building at a community level are critical to defining forestry solutions. Once a discipline only for professional foresters, forestry is now a community of practice represented by forestry professionals. This community includes-but is not limited to-foresters, engineers, biologists, ecologists, technologists, indigenous knowledge keepers, hydrologists, geologists, and geomorphologists as well as economists and social scientists. Forestry professionals must be able to practically apply knowledge acquired through institutional training and education, as well as knowledge and skills acquired through practice and experience. They must be able to reach out to the knowledge sector when faced with unknowns. The knowledge sector must be able to ethically respond as a community of practice to the demands for new science and continuous community-based learning. This paper investigates the role of the knowledge sector in contributing to communications, education, and capacity building for forestry professionals as well as forest-based communities. The concept of ethical commercialization of knowledge and social capital is also introduced.

Advancing the role of communications, education, and capacity building in the future of forestry: Communities of practice and community-based learning

The evolution from tree- and stand-level prescriptions over a rotation to estate- and watershed-level plans over many generations requires individuals and teams to understand and apply scientific, indigenous, and experiential knowledge to address complex issues. The solution must achieve the business and landscape objectives and stand up to public scrutiny while being both practical and cost effective. Communication, education, and capacity building at a community level are critical to defining forestry solutions. Once a discipline only for professional foresters, forestry is now a community of practice represented by forestry professionals. This community includes�but is not limited to�foresters, engineers, biologists, ecologists, technologists, indigenous knowledge keepers, hydrologists, geologists, and geomorphologists as well as economists and social scientists. Forestry professionals must be able to practically apply knowledge acquired through institutional training and education, as well as knowledge and skills acquired through practice and experience. They must be able to reach out to the knowledge sector when faced with unknowns. The knowledge sector must be able to ethically respond as a community of practice to the demands for new science and continuous community-based learning. This paper investigates the role of the knowledge sector in contributing to communications, education, and capacity building for forestry professionals as well as forest-based communities. The concept of ethical commercialization of knowledge and social capital is also introduced.

Are marginal beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances a source for drought tolerant ecotypes?

Due to the expected increases of number and intensity of summer droughts in Central Europe the identification of drought tolerant ecotypes becomes more important in future forestry. A common garden experiment with seedlings of Fagus sylvatica provenances from the center (Germany) and eastern margin (Poland) of the species’ distribution range was conducted. Responses of morphological, physiological, chemical and growth parameters to three drought treatments were analyzed. Relative growth rates of the marginal provenance were lower as compared to the central provenance. The marginal seedlings showed a tendency to higher total biomasses because of higher seed masses. In both provenances drought decreased biomass production and root/shoot ratio which was lower in the central provenance. A lower specific root area of the marginal provenance indicated a better adaptation to low xylem water potentials. Under moderate drought, lower leaf δ13C signatures may indicate lower stomatal limitation (or a reduced rate of CO2 assimilation) in the marginal provenance. We conclude that marginal beech provenances may exhibit a better drought adaptation.

Forestry in the Ukraine: the road ahead? Reply

This is an appropriate time to consider the future of forestry in the Ukraine since economic reforms are perhaps at their most bdefining crossroad since winning independence from the Soviet Union 12 years agoQ (Feduschak, 2003, see also Siedenberg and Hoffman, 1999), and many of Ukraine’s neighbours have recently (May 2004) joined an expanded European Union. Polyakov and Sydor’s (2004, hereafter P&S) comments on our earlier paper (Nijnik and van Kooten, 2000) provide an interesting perspective on the issue of reform as it applies to forestry. In our response to their comments, we consider first the most important point made by P&S, and the one with which we take the greatest issue, namely, their stance that Ukraine’s forests are better protected under a Sovietstyle command and control system than under a market system. We then consider more minor points of disagreement and end with some concluding observations.