Socio-ecological implications of modifying rotation lengths in forestry

Abstract

The rotation length is a key component ofeven-aged forest management systems. UsingFennoscandian forestry as a case, we review the socioecologicalimplications of modifying rotation lengthsrelative to current practice by evaluating effects on arange of ecosystem services and on biodiversityconservation. The effects of shortening rotations onprovisioning services are expected to be mostly negativeto neutral (e.g. production of wood, bilberries, reindeerforage), while those of extending rotations would be morevaried. Shortening rotations may help limit damage bysome of today's major damaging agents (e.g. root rot,cambium-feeding insects), but may also increase otherdamage types (e.g. regeneration pests) and impede climatemitigation. Supporting (water, soil nutrients) and cultural(aesthetics, cultural heritage) ecosystem services wouldgenerally be affected negatively by shortened rotations andpositively by extended rotations, as would mostbiodiversity indicators. Several effect modifiers, such aschanges to thinning regimes, could alter these patterns.

Keywords

Climate change; Forest damage; Non-timber forest products; Production; Recreation; Timber

Published in

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2016, volume: 45(Suppl.2), pages: S109-S123

SLU Authors

• Roberge, Jean-Michel

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Laudon, Hjalmar

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Björkman, Christer

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ranius, Thomas

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sandström, Camilla

  • Umeå University

• Felton, Adam

  • Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Nordin, Annika

  • Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Granström, Anders

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Widemo, Fredrik

  • Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergh, Johan

  • Linnaeus University

• Sonesson, Johan

  • Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Skogforsk

• Stenlid, Jan

  • Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lundmark, Tomas

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Future Forests (until Jan 2017)
SLU Future Forests
SLU Plant Protection Network

Global goals (SDG)

SDG13 Climate action
SDG15 Life on land

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science
Ecology
Sociology (excluding Social work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0747-4

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/69192