Sammanfattning

Approximately 85% of the global forest estate is neither formally protected nor in areas dedicated to intensive wood production (e.g., plantations). Given the spatial extent of unprotected forests, finding management approaches that will sustain their multiple environmental, economic, and cultural values and prevent their conversion to other uses is imperative. The major global challenge of native forest management is further demonstrated by ongoing steep declines in forest biodiversity and carbon stocks. Here, we suggest that an essential part of such managementsupplementing the protection of large reserves and sensitive areas within forest landscapes (e.g., aquatic features)is the adoption of the retention approach in forests where logging occurs. This ecological approach to harvesting provides for permanent retention of important selected structures (e.g., trees and decayed logs) to provide for continuity of ecosystem structure, function, and species composition in the postharvest forest. The retention approach supports the integration of environmental, economic, and cultural values and is broadly applicable to tropical, temperate, and boreal forests, adaptable to different management objectives, and appropriate in different societal settings. The widespread adoption of the retention approach would be one of the most significant changes in management practice since the onset of modern high-yield forestry.

Nyckelord

Ecologically sustainable forest management; altered logging practices; forest biodiversity conservation; forest ecosystem processes; altered forest policy; ecological forestry

Publicerad i

Conservation Letters
2012, Volym: 5, nummer: 6, sidor: 421-431
Utgivare: WILEY-BLACKWELL

SLU författare

• Kiehl, Berrit

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Gustafsson, Lena

  • Institutionen för naturvårdsbiologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

Skog
Biologisk mångfald
SLU Future Forests


Globala målen

SDG15 Skydda, återställa och främja ett hållbart nyttjande av landbaserade ekosystem, hållbart bruka skogar, bekämpa ökenspridning, hejda och vrida tillbaka markförstöringen samt hejda förlusten av biologisk mångfald
SDG12 Säkerställa hållbara konsumtions- och produktionsmönster


UKÄ forskningsämne

Miljövetenskap
Ekologi


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00257.x

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/41104