Changes in height growth patterns in the upper tree-line forests of Tierra del Fuego in relation to climate change

Los bosques de Nothofagus pumilio ocupan las laderas de montaña hasta alcanzar el limite altitudinal del bosque. Estos ambientes extremos, donde los bosques están bajo condiciones de estrés ambiental, son óptimos para estudiar patrones de cambio debidos a variaciones climáticas. El objetivo fue analizar cambios recientes en el crecimiento en altura en bosques localizados en el tree-line altitudinal en Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) y establecer posibles vinculaciones con cambios en la temperatura observados durante las últimas décadas. Se muestrearon nueve sitios, y se midieron cuatro parcelas en cada sitio. Se determinó la estructura forestal y se realizaron análisis fustales para evaluar los patrones de crecimiento en altura. Se realizaron ANOVA y análisis de clasificación usando como factores principales al sitio y al tiempo. El crecimiento en altura aumentó a lo largo del tiempo, e.g. 1,0 cm año-1 durante 1870-1959, 2,7 cm año-1 durante 1960-1979 y 5,0 cm año-1 durante 1980-2010. Esas diferencias fueron significativas entre períodos de tiempo y sitios, pudiendo estar relacionadas con la localización geográfica. El incremento en el crecimiento en altura observado está relacionado con los cambios en la temperatura de superficie experimentada en todo el mundo. Una declinación en el crecimiento en altura durante las últimas dos décadas, también puede estar relacionada con una disminución regional de la temperatura de aire. El análisis del crecimiento en altura es una herramienta de utilidad para evaluar la incidencia que tiene el cambio climático sobre el crecimiento de los árboles que crecen en ambientes extremos.Nothofagus pumilio occupy the mountain slopes reaching to the upper altitudinal limit of the forests. This extremely stressful environment represents the optimum conditions to study changes in growth patterns due to climate variations. Our goal was to analyze recent changes in stem height growth in forests located in the upper altitudinal tree-line along Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), and establish possible linkages to changes observed in surface temperature during the last decades. Nine locations were sampled, and four plots were measured in each location. Forest structure was characterized, and stem analyses were performed to assess height growth patterns. ANOVAs and classification analyses were conducted using location and time as main variables. Tree-growth height increased with time, e.g. 1.0 cm.year-1 during 1870-1959, 2.7 cm year-1 during 1960-1979, and 5.0 cm year-1 during 1980-2010. These differences were significant between periods and locations, and can be related to its geographical situation. Increment in stem height growth seems to be related with the worldwide surface air temperature. A decline in stem height growth registered during the last two decades can also be related with the regional decrease in the mean air temperature. The analysis of stem height growth is a useful tool to evaluate the incidence of climate change over trees growing under extreme environmental conditions.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y ForestalesLaboratorio de Investigación de Sistemas Ecológicos y Ambientale

Changes in height growth patterns in the upper tree-line forests of Tierra del Fuego in relation to climate change

Los bosques de Nothofagus pumilio ocupan las laderas de montaña hasta alcanzar el limite altitudinal del bosque. Estos ambientes extremos, donde los bosques están bajo condiciones de estrés ambiental, son óptimos para estudiar patrones de cambio debidos a variaciones climáticas. El objetivo fue analizar cambios recientes en el crecimiento en altura en bosques localizados en el tree-line altitudinal en Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) y establecer posibles vinculaciones con cambios en la temperatura observados durante las últimas décadas. Se muestrearon nueve sitios, y se midieron cuatro parcelas en cada sitio. Se determinó la estructura forestal y se realizaron análisis fustales para evaluar los patrones de crecimiento en altura. Se realizaron ANOVA y análisis de clasificación usando como factores principales al sitio y al tiempo. El crecimiento en altura aumentó a lo largo del tiempo, e.g. 1,0 cm año-1 durante 1870-1959, 2,7 cm año-1 durante 1960-1979 y 5,0 cm año-1 durante 1980-2010. Esas diferencias fueron significativas entre períodos de tiempo y sitios, pudiendo estar relacionadas con la localización geográfica. El incremento en el crecimiento en altura observado está relacionado con los cambios en la temperatura de superficie experimentada en todo el mundo. Una declinación en el crecimiento en altura durante las últimas dos décadas, también puede estar relacionada con una disminución regional de la temperatura de aire. El análisis del crecimiento en altura es una herramienta de utilidad para evaluar la incidencia que tiene el cambio climático sobre el crecimiento de los árboles que crecen en ambientes extremos.Nothofagus pumilio occupy the mountain slopes reaching to the upper altitudinal limit of the forests. This extremely stressful environment represents the optimum conditions to study changes in growth patterns due to climate variations. Our goal was to analyze recent changes in stem height growth in forests located in the upper altitudinal tree-line along Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), and establish possible linkages to changes observed in surface temperature during the last decades. Nine locations were sampled, and four plots were measured in each location. Forest structure was characterized, and stem analyses were performed to assess height growth patterns. ANOVAs and classification analyses were conducted using location and time as main variables. Tree-growth height increased with time, e.g. 1.0 cm.year-1 during 1870-1959, 2.7 cm year-1 during 1960-1979, and 5.0 cm year-1 during 1980-2010. These differences were significant between periods and locations, and can be related to its geographical situation. Increment in stem height growth seems to be related with the worldwide surface air temperature. A decline in stem height growth registered during the last two decades can also be related with the regional decrease in the mean air temperature. The analysis of stem height growth is a useful tool to evaluate the incidence of climate change over trees growing under extreme environmental conditions.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y ForestalesLaboratorio de Investigación de Sistemas Ecológicos y Ambientale

Harvesting Adaptation to Biodiversity Conservation in Sawmill Industry: Technology Innovation and Monitoring Program

Social demands related to native forest ecosystems are based on an efficient management, with a balance between conservation and timber production. This paper describes the industry adaptation to a biodiversity program with an alternative regeneration method. The proposed method leaves 30% of the timber-quality forest as aggregated retention and 15 m² ha-1 basal area as dispersed retention. While many costs increased considerably, the incomes also may increase by applying new management strategies and technology innovation. A monitoring program was established in the harvested stands to evaluate the ecological functionality of the applied regeneration system (forest structure, climate change, regeneration dynamics, habitat quality and abiotic cycles). The implementation of an innovated technology and monitoring program in the forest and industry determined a balance between economic values and biodiversity conservation.Las demandas sociales relacionadas con los ecosistemas forestales se basan en una gestión eficiente, con un equilibrio entre la conservación y la producción de madera. El siguiente trabajo describe la adaptación de la industria a un programa de biodiversidad con un método alternativo de regeneración. El método propuesto mantiene un 30% del bosque de calidad maderera como una retención agregada y un área basal de 15 m² ha-1 Como una retención dispersa. Mientras muchos de los costos aumentan considerablemente, los ingresos también aumentan mediante la aplicación de las nuevas estrategias de gestión y de las tecnologías de innovación. Un programa de monitoreo se estableció en la cosecha para evaluar la funcionalidad ecológica del sistema de regeneración aplicado (estructura del bosque, cambio climático, dinámica de regeneración, calidad del hábitat y ciclos abióticos). La implementación de una tecnología de innovación y un programa de monitoreo en el bosque y la industria determinan un equilibrio entre los valores económicos y la conservación de la biodiversidad.Social demands related to native forest ecosystems are based on an efficient management, with a balance between conservation and timber production. This paper describes the industry adaptation to a biodiversity program with an alternative regeneration method. The proposed method leaves 30% of the timber-quality forest as aggregated retention and 15 m² ha-1 basal area as dispersed retention. While many costs increased considerably, the incomes also may increase by applying new management strategies and technology innovation. A monitoring program was established in the harvested stands to evaluate the ecological functionality of the applied regeneration system (forest structure, climate change, regeneration dynamics, habitat quality and abiotic cycles). The implementation of an innovated technology and monitoring program in the forest and industry determined a balance between economic values and biodiversity conservation

Long-term forest management research in South Patagonia - Argentina: Lessons from the past, challenges from the present

Argentina ha basado su economía en la agricultura y el ganado, donde el bosque ha sido visto como un obstáculo para el desarrollo. La cosecha forestal en Patagonia Sur ha sido una actividad basada en la colonización y explotación de nuevas áreas. Esta se realiza principalmente en bosques primarios sin ningún manejo silvícola posterior. A pesar de que el manejo actual no es sustentable, la investigación científica ha definido las bases para conservar, proteger y mejorar las propuestas de manejo forestal para los bosques nativos de Patagonia Sur. Las primeras parcelas de estudio a largo plazo (1965-1966) basaron su monitoreo en parámetros económicos y estructura forestal, estableciéndose cerca de veinte parcelas en bosques fiscales de Tierra del Fuego. La mayoría fueron destruidas o discontinuadas debido a la falta de planificación del uso de la tierra, escaso interés social en la investigación, falta de compromiso de instituciones, y poca colaboración con empresas forestales. Posteriormente, un segundo grupo de nueve parcelas se estableció en Patagonia Sur (1993-2004) basado en la colaboración entre empresas privadas e instituciones nacionales. Los objetivos incluyeron parámetros económicos y ecológicos. Las parcelas se establecieron en tierras privadas conjuntamente con empresas privadas y estancieros, mediante la firma de acuerdos y proyectos de investigación. Los principales problemas encontrados fueron: falta de compromiso de las administraciones forestales, ausencia de proyectos financiados a largo plazo, y que la responsabilidad de las parcelas continúa bajo la iniciativa personal de los investigadores participantes. El estudio de las parcelas permitió: (i) proponer nuevos sistemas de regeneración basados en la maximización del rendimiento y el mejoramiento del valor de conservación de los bosques manejados (e.g., retención variable y sistemas silvopastoriles), (ii) determinar la factibilidad económica de aplicación de tratamientos intermedios, (iii) determinar líneas base y definir los impactos de distintos sistemas silvícolas, (iv) proponer metodologías de monitoreo de amplio espectro y establecer áreas demostrativas de manejo, y (v) proveer áreas y conocimientos para entrenar profesionales en prácticas de manejo forestal y conservación de la biodiversidad. Las parcelas permanentes ya establecidas en los bosques de Nothofagus de Patagonia Sur y las bases de datos obtenidas podrían servir como punto de partida para definir un núcleo regional que pueda participar en el International Long Term Ecological Research para asegurar el uso sustentable de los bosques nativos.Argentina has based its economy in agriculture and cattle production seeing forests as one of the main obstacles for future development. Forest harvesting in South Patagonia has been an activity based on colonization and exploitation of new areas. Harvesting is mainly carried out in old-growth forests without silviculture management after the first cuts. Beyond this mismanagement, scientific research defined the basis to conserve, protect and improve the present forest management for the South Patagonia native forests. The first long-term study permanent plots (1965-1966) monitored only economic and forest structure parameters, and near twenty plots were established in public forested lands of Tierra del Fuego. Most of these plots were destroyed or discontinued due to a lack of land use planning, scarce social interest for long-term researches, absence of commitment of institutions, and few contributions of forest companies. After this, a second group of nine long-term study permanent plots were established in South Patagonia (1993- 2004) based in the collaboration between private companies and national research institutions. The objectives included economic as well as ecological parameters. The new plots were established on private lands based on several agreements and joint venture projects between national institutions, private companies and ranch owners. The main limitations in these processes were: a lack of commitment from the provincial forest administrations, absence of long-term financed projects and a clear forest policy from the government, and that continuity of plot measurements rely only under the responsibility of researchers. The study of the long-term plots allowed: (i) to propose new harvesting systems by maximizing yield and improving conservation value of managed forests (e.g., variable retention and silvopastoral systems), (ii) to determine the economical feasibility of the intermediate treatments, (iii) to define base-lines and impacts of different silvicultural treatments, (iv) to propose a wide spectrum of monitoring methodologies and establish demonstrative areas of forest management, and (v) to provide areas and knowledge to train professionals in forest management and biodiversity conservation practices. The surviving permanent plots in Nothofagus forest in South Patagonia and the obtained information could be used as a starting point to define a regional nucleus that could participate in the International Long Term Ecological Research to improve the use of native forests.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Changes in height growth patterns in the upper tree-line forests of Tierra del Fuego in relation to climate change

Los bosques de Nothofagus pumilio ocupan las laderas de montaña hasta alcanzar el limite altitudinal del bosque. Estos ambientes extremos, donde los bosques están bajo condiciones de estrés ambiental, son óptimos para estudiar patrones de cambio debidos a variaciones climáticas. El objetivo fue analizar cambios recientes en el crecimiento en altura en bosques localizados en el tree-line altitudinal en Tierra del Fuego (Argentina) y establecer posibles vinculaciones con cambios en la temperatura observados durante las últimas décadas. Se muestrearon nueve sitios, y se midieron cuatro parcelas en cada sitio. Se determinó la estructura forestal y se realizaron análisis fustales para evaluar los patrones de crecimiento en altura. Se realizaron ANOVA y análisis de clasificación usando como factores principales al sitio y al tiempo. El crecimiento en altura aumentó a lo largo del tiempo, e.g. 1,0 cm año-1 durante 1870-1959, 2,7 cm año-1 durante 1960-1979 y 5,0 cm año-1 durante 1980-2010. Esas diferencias fueron significativas entre períodos de tiempo y sitios, pudiendo estar relacionadas con la localización geográfica. El incremento en el crecimiento en altura observado está relacionado con los cambios en la temperatura de superficie experimentada en todo el mundo. Una declinación en el crecimiento en altura durante las últimas dos décadas, también puede estar relacionada con una disminución regional de la temperatura de aire. El análisis del crecimiento en altura es una herramienta de utilidad para evaluar la incidencia que tiene el cambio climático sobre el crecimiento de los árboles que crecen en ambientes extremos.Nothofagus pumilio occupy the mountain slopes reaching to the upper altitudinal limit of the forests. This extremely stressful environment represents the optimum conditions to study changes in growth patterns due to climate variations. Our goal was to analyze recent changes in stem height growth in forests located in the upper altitudinal tree-line along Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), and establish possible linkages to changes observed in surface temperature during the last decades. Nine locations were sampled, and four plots were measured in each location. Forest structure was characterized, and stem analyses were performed to assess height growth patterns. ANOVAs and classification analyses were conducted using location and time as main variables. Tree-growth height increased with time, e.g. 1.0 cm.year-1 during 1870-1959, 2.7 cm year-1 during 1960-1979, and 5.0 cm year-1 during 1980-2010. These differences were significant between periods and locations, and can be related to its geographical situation. Increment in stem height growth seems to be related with the worldwide surface air temperature. A decline in stem height growth registered during the last two decades can also be related with the regional decrease in the mean air temperature. The analysis of stem height growth is a useful tool to evaluate the incidence of climate change over trees growing under extreme environmental conditions.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y ForestalesLaboratorio de Investigación de Sistemas Ecológicos y Ambientale

Long-term forest management research in South Patagonia - Argentina: Lessons from the past, challenges from the present

Argentina ha basado su economía en la agricultura y el ganado, donde el bosque ha sido visto como un obstáculo para el desarrollo. La cosecha forestal en Patagonia Sur ha sido una actividad basada en la colonización y explotación de nuevas áreas. Esta se realiza principalmente en bosques primarios sin ningún manejo silvícola posterior. A pesar de que el manejo actual no es sustentable, la investigación científica ha definido las bases para conservar, proteger y mejorar las propuestas de manejo forestal para los bosques nativos de Patagonia Sur. Las primeras parcelas de estudio a largo plazo (1965-1966) basaron su monitoreo en parámetros económicos y estructura forestal, estableciéndose cerca de veinte parcelas en bosques fiscales de Tierra del Fuego. La mayoría fueron destruidas o discontinuadas debido a la falta de planificación del uso de la tierra, escaso interés social en la investigación, falta de compromiso de instituciones, y poca colaboración con empresas forestales. Posteriormente, un segundo grupo de nueve parcelas se estableció en Patagonia Sur (1993-2004) basado en la colaboración entre empresas privadas e instituciones nacionales. Los objetivos incluyeron parámetros económicos y ecológicos. Las parcelas se establecieron en tierras privadas conjuntamente con empresas privadas y estancieros, mediante la firma de acuerdos y proyectos de investigación. Los principales problemas encontrados fueron: falta de compromiso de las administraciones forestales, ausencia de proyectos financiados a largo plazo, y que la responsabilidad de las parcelas continúa bajo la iniciativa personal de los investigadores participantes. El estudio de las parcelas permitió: (i) proponer nuevos sistemas de regeneración basados en la maximización del rendimiento y el mejoramiento del valor de conservación de los bosques manejados (e.g., retención variable y sistemas silvopastoriles), (ii) determinar la factibilidad económica de aplicación de tratamientos intermedios, (iii) determinar líneas base y definir los impactos de distintos sistemas silvícolas, (iv) proponer metodologías de monitoreo de amplio espectro y establecer áreas demostrativas de manejo, y (v) proveer áreas y conocimientos para entrenar profesionales en prácticas de manejo forestal y conservación de la biodiversidad. Las parcelas permanentes ya establecidas en los bosques de Nothofagus de Patagonia Sur y las bases de datos obtenidas podrían servir como punto de partida para definir un núcleo regional que pueda participar en el International Long Term Ecological Research para asegurar el uso sustentable de los bosques nativos.Argentina has based its economy in agriculture and cattle production seeing forests as one of the main obstacles for future development. Forest harvesting in South Patagonia has been an activity based on colonization and exploitation of new areas. Harvesting is mainly carried out in old-growth forests without silviculture management after the first cuts. Beyond this mismanagement, scientific research defined the basis to conserve, protect and improve the present forest management for the South Patagonia native forests. The first long-term study permanent plots (1965-1966) monitored only economic and forest structure parameters, and near twenty plots were established in public forested lands of Tierra del Fuego. Most of these plots were destroyed or discontinued due to a lack of land use planning, scarce social interest for long-term researches, absence of commitment of institutions, and few contributions of forest companies. After this, a second group of nine long-term study permanent plots were established in South Patagonia (1993- 2004) based in the collaboration between private companies and national research institutions. The objectives included economic as well as ecological parameters. The new plots were established on private lands based on several agreements and joint venture projects between national institutions, private companies and ranch owners. The main limitations in these processes were: a lack of commitment from the provincial forest administrations, absence of long-term financed projects and a clear forest policy from the government, and that continuity of plot measurements rely only under the responsibility of researchers. The study of the long-term plots allowed: (i) to propose new harvesting systems by maximizing yield and improving conservation value of managed forests (e.g., variable retention and silvopastoral systems), (ii) to determine the economical feasibility of the intermediate treatments, (iii) to define base-lines and impacts of different silvicultural treatments, (iv) to propose a wide spectrum of monitoring methodologies and establish demonstrative areas of forest management, and (v) to provide areas and knowledge to train professionals in forest management and biodiversity conservation practices. The surviving permanent plots in Nothofagus forest in South Patagonia and the obtained information could be used as a starting point to define a regional nucleus that could participate in the International Long Term Ecological Research to improve the use of native forests.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Carbon pool dynamics after variable retention harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests of Tierra del Fuego

Background It is necessary to determine the implications for managing forest stands using variable retention harvesting for maintaining carbon and for calculating the effects of different harvesting practices on above‑ and belowground carbon balance in forest ecosystems. In this context, forest carbon management has gained more attention among managers and policy‑makers during recent years. The aim of this study was to determine carbon pool dynamics in different forest ecosystem components after variable retention harvesting (VRH) to characterize the ecological stability and quantify the recovery rate through the years‑after‑harvesting (YAH). Methods Carbon pool compartmentalization of 14 different components was determined in 60 harvested and primary unmanaged forests during the first 18 YAH in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). We compared them using uni‑ and multi‑variate methods, relativizing the outputs with primary unmanaged forests. Results We determined the effectiveness to retain carbon components in post‑harvested stands under different retention strategies (aggregated vs. dispersed). The balance among carbon pool components changed between managed and unmanaged stands across the YAH, and was directly related to the impact magnitude. Aggregated retention improved the ecological stability of the harvested areas, where the below‑ground components were more stable than the above‑ground components. The recovery rate was directly related to the post‑harvesting natural dynamics of the stands. The studied period was not enough to fully recover the C levels of primary unmanaged forests, but VRH showed advantages to increase the C pools in the managed stands. Conclusions Promoting VRH can improve sustainable forestry at the landscape level and in the long term, generating positive synergies with biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. This study provides important new insights into forest carbon management, in particular to setting standards in carbon projects and sets the groundwork for analysing the economics of the mentioned harvesting systems.EEA Santa CruzFil: Chaves, Jimena Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC); Argentina.Fil: Aravena Acuña, Marie Claire. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC). Laboratorio de Recursos Agroforestales; Argentina.Fil: Rodríguez‑Souilla, Julián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC); Argentina.Fil: Cellini, Juan Manuel. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Maderas; Argentina.Fil: Rappa, Nolan J. University of Freiburg. Nature Conservation & Landscape Ecology; AlemaniaFil: Lencinas, María Vanessa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC); Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina.Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.Fil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC); Argentina

Exemplary Knowledge Transfer Between Germany and Patagonia as Contribution to the Regional Achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030

Concerted efforts are required to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. In our study, we intend to outline how valuable synergy effects can be obtained from bilateral cooperation between Germany and Patagonia in order to protect temperate forest ecosystems and to ensure long-term and sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources. The additional benefit of this transcontinental and transhemispherical cooperation is that there are analogies between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, but also distinct differences that complement each other perfectly. We show in an exemplary way, how the challenges of Global Warming and the associated increased vulnerability to forest fires and other natural risks can be tackled. Knowledge transfer and common strategies will provide sound solutions for SDG 13 (urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts), SDG 15 (sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managed forests, combating desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss) and SDG 17 (strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development).Fil: Walentowski, H.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Hohnwald, S.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Thren, M.. University of Applied Sciences and Arts; AlemaniaFil: Kappas, M.. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Leuschner, C.. Universität Göttingen; AlemaniaFil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Bava, J.. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Loguercio, Gabriel Angel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Urretavizcaya, María Florencia. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Barrotaeveña, C.. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Zerbe, S.. Free University of Bozen ; Itali

A major shift to the retention approach for forestry can help resolve some global forest sustainability issues

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 management—supplementing 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.Fil: Lindenmayer, D.B.. The Australian National University,; AustraliaFil: Franklin, J.F.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Lõhmus, A.. University of Tartu; EstoniaFil: Baker, S.C.. University of Tasmania; AustraliaFil: Bauhus, J.. Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg; AlemaniaFil: Beese, W.. University of Vancouver; CanadáFil: Brodie, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Kiehl, B.. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; SueciaFil: Kouki, J.. University of Eastern Finland; FinlandiaFil: Martínez Pastur, Guillermo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Messier, C.. Université du Québec a Montreal; CanadáFil: Neyland, M.. University of Tasmania; AustraliaFil: Palik, B.. No especifíca;Fil: Sverdrup Thygeson, A.. Norwegian University of Life Sciences; NoruegaFil: Volney, J.. Canadian Forest Service; CanadáFil: Wayne, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Gustafsson, L.. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Sueci

MASTREE+: Time-series of plant reproductive effort from six continents.

Significant gaps remain in understanding the response of plant reproduction to environmental change. This is partly because measuring reproduction in long-lived plants requires direct observation over many years and such datasets have rarely been made publicly available. Here we introduce MASTREE+, a data set that collates reproductive time-series data from across the globe and makes these data freely available to the community. MASTREE+ includes 73,828 georeferenced observations of annual reproduction (e.g. seed and fruit counts) in perennial plant populations worldwide. These observations consist of 5971 population-level time-series from 974 species in 66 countries. The mean and median time-series length is 12.4 and 10 years respectively, and the data set includes 1122 series that extend over at least two decades (≥20 years of observations). For a subset of well-studied species, MASTREE+ includes extensive replication of time-series across geographical and climatic gradients. Here we describe the open-access data set, available as a.csv file, and we introduce an associated web-based app for data exploration. MASTREE+ will provide the basis for improved understanding of the response of long-lived plant reproduction to environmental change. Additionally, MASTREE+ will enable investigation of the ecology and evolution of reproductive strategies in perennial plants, and the role of plant reproduction as a driver of ecosystem dynamics