Contribution of traditional knowledge to ecological restoration : practices and applications

Traditional knowledge has become a topic of considerable interest within the research and development environment. The contribution of traditional knowledge to conservation and management is increasingly recognized, and implementation endeavours are underway in several countries. The current scale of ecosystem degradation underscores the need for restoration interventions. It is increasingly recognized that successful ecological restoration depends on effective coordination of science and traditional ecological knowledge. This paper synthesizes the literature to evaluate the present and potential contribution of traditional knowledge to ecological restoration. Despite a growing number of articles published on traditional knowledge, only a few have addressed its contributions to ecological restoration per se. The main contributions of traditional knowledge to ecological restoration are in construction of reference ecosystems, particularly when historical information is not available; species selection for restoration plantations; site selection for restoration; knowledge about historical land management practices; management of invasive species; and post-restoration monitoring. Traditional knowledge and science are complementary and should be used in conjunction in ecological restoration projects. Incorporation of traditional knowledge can contribute to build a strong partnership for the successful implementation of restoration projects and increase their social acceptability, economical feasibility, and ecological viability. L'intérêt du secteur de la recherche et développement pour les connaissances traditionnelles est considérable. La contribution des savoirs traditionnels à la conservation et à l'aménagement est de plus en plus reconnue et des expériences terrain en ce sens sont en cours dans plusieurs pays. Le niveau de dégradation des écosystèmes justifie le besoin d'interventions de restauration. Il est de plus en plus reconnu que l'intégration des connaissances scientifiques et traditionnelles est nécessaire au succès des efforts de restauration. Cette synthèse évalue les contributions actuelles et potentielles des savoirs traditionnels à la restauration écologique. Malgré qu'un nombre croissant d'articles soient publiés à propos des connaissances traditionnelles, peu concernent la contribution à la restauration écologique. Les principales contributions des connaissances traditionnelles à la restauration écologique sont l'identification d'écosystèmes de référence, en particulier lorsque les informations historiques ne sont pas disponibles; la sélection d'espèces pour les plantations; la sélection de sites pour la restauration; la connaissance de l'historique local des pratiques d'aménagement; la gestion des espèces envahissantes; et le suivi post-restauration. Les connaissances traditionnelles et scientifiques sont complémentaires et devraient être utilisées conjointement dans les projets de restauration écologique. L'inclusion des connaissances traditionnelles peut contribuer à construire un partenariat solide pour le succès de mise en œuvre de projets de restauration et pour en augmenter l'acceptabilité sociale, la faisabilité économique et la viabilité écologique

A toolkit modeling approach for sustainable forest management planning: Achieving balance between science and local needs

To assist forest managers in balancing an increasing diversity of resource objectives, we developed a toolkit modeling approach for sustainable forest management (SFM). The approach inserts a meta-modeling strategy into a collaborative modeling framework grounded in adaptive management philosophy that facilitates participation among stakeholders, decision makers, and local domain experts in the meta-model building process. The modeling team works iteratively with each of these groups to define osential questions, identify data resources, and then determine whether available tools can be applied or adapted, or whether new tools can be rapidly created to fit the need. The desired goal of the process is a linked series of domain-specific models (tools) that balances generalized "top-down" models (i.e., scientific models developed without input from the local system) with case-specific customized "bottom-up" models that are driven primarily by local needs. Information flow between models is organized according to vertical (i.e., between scale) and horizontal (i.e., within scale) dimensions. We illustrate our approach within a 2.1 million hectare forest planning district in central Labrador, a forested landscape where social hnd ecological values receive a higher priority than economic values. However, the focus of this paper is on the process of how SFM modeling tools and concepts can be rapidly assembled and applied in new locations, balancing efficient transfer of science with adaptation to local needs. We use the Labrador case study to illustrate strengths and challenges uniquely associated with a meta-modeling approach to integrated modeling as it fits within the broader collaborative modeling framework. Principle advantages of the approach include the scientific rigor introduced by peer-reviewed models, combined with the adaptability of meta-modeling. A key challenge is the limited transparency of scientific models to different participatory groups. This challenge can be overcome by frequent and substantive two-way communication among different groups at appropriate times in the model-building process, combined with strong leadership that includes strategic choices when assembling the modeling team. The toolkit approach holds promise for extending beyond case studies, without compromising the bottom-up flow of needs and information, to inform SFM planning using the best available science

Fire and canopy species composition in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest of Témiscamingue, Québec

Large severe fires are typically rare in the northern hardwood forests of eastern North America, with estimated return intervals as high as 1400-4500 years. We investigated the history of large severe fires in western Qu

Tree Death Not Resulting in Gap Creation: An Investigation of Canopy Dynamics of Northern Temperate Deciduous Forests

Several decades of research have shown that canopy gaps drive tree renewal processes in the temperate deciduous forest biome. In the literature, canopy gaps are usually defined as canopy openings that are created by partial or total tree death of one or more canopy trees. In this study, we investigate linkages between tree damage mechanisms and the formation or not of new canopy gaps in northern temperate deciduous forests. We studied height loss processes in unmanaged and managed forests recovering from partial cutting with multi-temporal airborne Lidar data. The Lidar dataset was used to detect areas where canopy height reduction occurred, which were then field-studied to identify the tree damage mechanisms implicated. We also sampled the density of leaf material along transects to characterize canopy structure. We used the dataset of the canopy height reduction areas in a multi-model inference analysis to determine whether canopy structures or tree damage mechanisms most influenced the creation of new canopy gaps within canopy height reduction areas. According to our model, new canopy gaps are created mainly when canopy damage enlarges existing gaps or when height is reduced over areas without an already established dense sub-canopy tree layer

Biomass allocation and plant morphology explain the difference in shrub species abundance in a temperate forest

Abstract In forested ecosystems, shrubs must succeed in persisting in low‐light environments, while simultaneously having the ability to rapidly expand and occupy newly created canopy openings, yet little is known about the traits that make this possible. We hypothesize that shrub species that are abundant in the understory exhibit a specific set of functional traits that define their ability to persist during unfavorable periods and to rapidly exploit newly created habitats. We tested this by comparing field‐measured functional traits such as biomass allocation, leaf display, crown morphology, and leaf traits, across individual size classes and two gap‐forest environments of five shrub species. We observed significant differences in traits between species, size classes, and gap‐forest environments. These differences were primarily related to biomass allocation traits, followed by leaf display, crown morphology, and leaf traits. Abundant shrubs like mountain maple (Acer spicatum) and hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) invested significantly more biomass in roots, had a larger total leaf area, and displayed leaves in a more efficient manner to intercept light. The high investment in root biomass can be interpreted as shrubs exploiting the persistence and colonization strategy through resprouting. Permanent sub‐canopy status likely explains the importance of efficient leaf display, wherein abundant shrubs had a large leaf area with minimal support structures

Discrimination of canopy gaps and non-regenerating openings in old-growth temperate deciduous forests using airborne LiDAR data

The use of LiDAR in the study of gap regimes has seen significant progress in recent years. Researchers have assumed that canopy gaps that are detected in this manner were ecologically equivalent to gaps sampled in situ by more traditional methods. However, those latter methods usually include canopy gaps only and ignore non-regenerating openings that are produced by causes limiting tree establishment. We developed a predictive model capable of discriminating between canopy gaps and non-regenerating openings using LiDAR-derived data. Selected predictive variables were related to conditions that limit tree establishment, such as zones of moisture accumulation and steep slopes, or to the resulting vegetation physiognomy. The model was applied to three old-growth forests to predict the fractions of canopy openings belonging to these two types. On average, non-regenerating openings represented 19.5% of the total area detected as canopy openings and occupied 1.37% of the sites. Canopy gaps formed 80.5% of the total area in canopy openings and covered 5.71% of sites that were studied. The non-regenerating opening seemed more frequent on thin surficial deposits. The canopy gap fraction was similar among study sites but had lower values than usually reported for temperate deciduous forest.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Revisiting the Functional Zoning Concept under Climate Change to Expand the Portfolio of Adaptation Options

Climate change is threatening our ability to manage forest ecosystems sustainably. Despite strong consensus on the need for a broad portfolio of options to face this challenge, diversified management options have yet to be widely implemented. Inspired by functional zoning, a concept aimed at optimizing biodiversity conservation and wood production in multiple-use forest landscapes, we present a portfolio of management options that intersects management objectives with forest vulnerability to better address the wide range of goals inherent to forest management under climate change. Using this approach, we illustrate how different adaptation options could be implemented when faced with impacts related to climate change and its uncertainty. These options range from establishing ecological reserves in climatic refuges, where self-organizing ecological processes can result in resilient forests, to intensive plantation silviculture that could ensure a stable wood supply in an uncertain future. While adaptation measures in forests that are less vulnerable correspond to the traditional functional zoning management objectives, forests with higher vulnerability might be candidates for transformative measures as they may be more susceptible to abrupt changes in structure and composition. To illustrate how this portfolio of management options could be applied, we present a theoretical case study for the eastern boreal forest of Canada. Even if these options are supported by solid evidence, their implementation across the landscape may present some challenges and will require good communication among stakeholders and with the public

Vegetation recovery following fire and harvest disturbance in central Labrador — a landscape perspective

Understanding vegetation recovery patterns following wildfire and logging disturbance is essential for long-term planning in sustainable forestry. Plot-scale studies indicate differences in revegetation rates and postdisturbance composition in Labrador, Canada, following fire in comparison with harvest but do not necessarily capture the full range of relevant landscape variability. Using a satellite-based land cover classification that distinguishes forest, woodland, shrub, lichen, and bare ground, we applied partial least-squared regression (PLS) to derive empirical models of vegetation dynamics following fire and harvest. Forest recovery rates were found to be generally slow and sensitive to predisturbance land condition and site quality (potential productivity). We found that, although disturbance type was not specifically retained in the model, estimated rates of vegetation recovery were faster for a typical harvest compared with a typical fire (i.e., 50% recovery at 14 years versus 33 years, respectively). Indeed, the model predicts important regeneration delay following fire that appears sensitive to both site quality and area burned. Understanding factors affecting broad-scale vegetation recovery relationships can help guide future sustainable forestry and wildlife habitat initiatives in the region, in part by parameterizing landscape simulation models used for strategic decision support.This article is published as Miranda, Brian R., Brian R. Sturtevant, Isabelle Schmelzer, Frédérik Doyon, and Peter Wolter. "Vegetation recovery following fire and harvest disturbance in central Labrador—a landscape perspective." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 46, no. 8 (2016): 1009-1018. doi: 10.1139/cjfr-2015-0516. Posted with permission.</p

Revisiting the Functional Zoning Concept under Climate Change to Expand the Portfolio of Adaptation Options

Climate change is threatening our ability to manage forest ecosystems sustainably. Despite strong consensus on the need for a broad portfolio of options to face this challenge, diversified management options have yet to be widely implemented. Inspired by functional zoning, a concept aimed at optimizing biodiversity conservation and wood production in multiple-use forest landscapes, we present a portfolio of management options that intersects management objectives with forest vulnerability to better address the wide range of goals inherent to forest management under climate change. Using this approach, we illustrate how different adaptation options could be implemented when faced with impacts related to climate change and its uncertainty. These options range from establishing ecological reserves in climatic refuges, where self-organizing ecological processes can result in resilient forests, to intensive plantation silviculture that could ensure a stable wood supply in an uncertain future. While adaptation measures in forests that are less vulnerable correspond to the traditional functional zoning management objectives, forests with higher vulnerability might be candidates for transformative measures as they may be more susceptible to abrupt changes in structure and composition. To illustrate how this portfolio of management options could be applied, we present a theoretical case study for the eastern boreal forest of Canada. Even if these options are supported by solid evidence, their implementation across the landscape may present some challenges and will require good communication among stakeholders and with the public