The increased speed of global change and associated high severity disturbances, in conjunction with the increasing suite of societal expectations on forests, suggest that the timeliness of interventions to encourage the adaptive capacity of ecosystems and to reduce negative impacts in regards to provision of ecosystem services is increasingly relevant. To address this issue, we expand the concept of lag time as used in ecological discussions into a forest management context. In this context, lag times have earlier starting and later ending points and can be separated into different components. These components include the delay till detection, decision making, and implementation, followed by ecological lag time and the time till ecosystem services are provided at acceptable levels. The first three components are influenced by the availability of information, the lack of which can extend lag times. Also, the lengths of components are not simply additive but they interact. For example, treatment preparation due to a quicker detection can lead to shorter decision and implementation lag times. We highlight the benefits of addressing the various components of lag time in forestry operations. Especially when considering adaptive capacity in times of global change, our analysis suggests that all aspects of the forestry sector are challenged to consider how to optimize lag times. Last, we propose that such issues need to be considered with any management action and are especially relevant in discussions whether the best strategy after disturbances or in the light of global change is to adopt a passive approach and let natural ecosystem processes play out on their own or whether active management is better suited to ensure a more rapid and fitting ecosystem response to facilitate the continued provision of ecosystem services.
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Open Access
Research Article
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Open Access
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The development of forestry as a scientific and management discipline over the last two centuries has mainly emphasized intensive management operations focused on increased commodity production, mostly wood. This "conventional" forest management approach has typically favored production of even-aged, single-species stands. While alternative management regimes have generally received less attention, this has been changing over the last three decades, especially in countries with developed economies. Reasons for this change include a combination of new information and concerns about the ecological consequences of intensive forestry practices and a willingness on the part of many forest owners and society to embrace a wider set of management objectives. Alternative silvicultural approaches are characterized by a set of fundamental principles, including avoidance of clearcutting, an emphasis on structural diversity and small-scale variability, deployment of mixed species with natural regeneration, and avoidance of intensive site-preparation methods.
Our compilation of the authors' experiences and perspectives from various parts of the world aims to initiatea larger discussion concerning the constraints to and the potential of adopting alternative silvicultural practices.
The results suggest that a wider adoption of alternative silvicultural practices is currently hindered by a suite of ecological, economic, logistical, informational, cultural, and historical constraints. Individual contexts display their own unique combinations and relative significance of these constraints, and accordingly, targeted efforts, such as regulations and incentives, may help to overcome specific challenges.
In a broader context, we propose that less emphases on strict applications of principles and on stand structures might provide additional flexibility and facilitate the adoption of alternative silvicultural regimes in a broader set of circumstances. At the same time, the acceptance of alternative silvicultural systems as the "preferred or default mode of management" will necessitate and benefit from the continued development of the scientific basis and valuation of a variety of ecosystem goods and services. This publication is aimed to further the discussion in this context.
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