Ecological Bulletins, Ecology of Woody Debris in Boreal Forests

Ecological Bulletins, Ecology of Woody Debris in Boreal Forests
Author: Bengt Gunnar Jonsson
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2001-12-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9788716164322

Today dead trees are not only viewed upon as waste and as potential sources of pest species. Instead they have gained an increased attention as key factors for biodiversity in many ecosystems. This change in focus and concern has sparked intense research activities directed to explore the ecological role of dead trees in forest ecosystems. Focus is directed into three main areas: 1) to understand the patterns of woody debris availability in relation to forest stand dynamics and effects of forestry, 2) the role of woody debris in nutrient and particularly carbon dynamics in forest ecosystems, and 3) the pattern and biology of the utilization of woody debris for a large number of wood-dependent species. This volume summarises the present knowledge and presents a set of case studies on the role of dead wood in boreal forests. The focus is on Fennoscandian boreal forests. However, the results presented have a wide applicability and thus the volume may serve as a general introduction to the importance of woody debris in forest ecosystems.

Woody Debris in the Forests of British Columbia

Woody Debris in the Forests of British Columbia
Author: Caroline Louella Caza
Publisher: BC, Ministry of Forests, Research Branch
Total Pages: 116
Release: 1993
Genre: Science
ISBN:

This project was undertaken to review the ecological role of woody debris in temperate forest eco-systems, with particular emphasis on methods of estimating amounts and turnover rates, and the effects of logging and silvicultural activities on the amounts and behaviour of woody debris; to identify proposed or ongoing research with the Ministry of Forests related to the role of woody debris in the forest of British Columbia; to determine what information is available for the forest types of B.C.; and to identify forest types for which information on quantities or functions of woody debris is lacking and to discuss the research required to fill these gaps.

Salvage Logging and Its Ecological Consequences

Salvage Logging and Its Ecological Consequences
Author: David B. Lindenmayer
Publisher: Island Press
Total Pages: 247
Release: 2012-07-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1610911466

Salvage logging—removing trees from a forested area in the wake of a catastrophic event such as a wildfire or hurricane—is highly controversial. Policymakers and those with an economic interest in harvesting trees typically argue that damaged areas should be logged so as to avoid “wasting” resources, while many forest ecologists contend that removing trees following a disturbance is harmful to a variety of forest species and can interfere with the natural process of ecosystem recovery. Salvage Logging and Its Ecological Consequences brings together three leading experts on forest ecology to explore a wide range of issues surrounding the practice of salvage logging. They gather and synthesize the latest research and information about its economic and ecological costs and benefits, and consider the impacts of salvage logging on ecosystem processes and biodiversity. The book examines • what salvage logging is and why it is controversial • natural and human disturbance regimes in forested ecosystems • differences between salvage harvesting and traditional timber harvesting • scientifically documented ecological impacts of salvage operations • the importance of land management objectives in determining appropriate post-disturbance interventions Brief case studies from around the world highlight a variety of projects, including operations that have followed wildfires, storms, volcanic eruptions, and insect infestations. In the final chapter, the authors discuss policy management implications and offer prescriptions for mitigating the impacts of future salvage harvesting efforts. Salvage Logging and Its Ecological Consequences is a “must-read” volume for policymakers, students, academics, practitioners, and professionals involved in all aspects of forest management, natural resource planning, and forest conservation.

Ecology of Wildfire Residuals in Boreal Forests

Ecology of Wildfire Residuals in Boreal Forests
Author: Ajith Perera
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2014-07-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1118870581

Large and intense wildfires are integral to the globally important boreal forest biome. While much is known about boreal wildfires, the focus on forest remnants that either escape or survive these intense fires is a recent phenomenon: academics now study ecological processes of wildfire residuals, forest policymakers use their patterns to design harvest strategies, forest managers consider their economic value, and conservationists recognize their intrinsic ecological importance. Ecology of Wildfire Residuals in Boreal Forests is the first book to explore ecological patterns and processes of what does not burn within boreal wildfires. Following a brief introduction to the boreal forest biome, it discusses the processes that form wildfire residuals; how they are studied, with various approaches and methods; the types, extent, and ecological functions of wildfire residuals; and their role in forest management applications, all in the context of ecological scale. This book is a reference for researchers and graduate students studying boreal forest ecology, as well as for policymakers and forest managers. It adopts a non-reductionist perspective that will be of interest to scientists from conservation science, forest ecology, forest management, and timber production. Brings together fire behaviour, ecological scale, vegetation ecology, and conservation biology to provide a cross disciplinary, multi-scale, and an integrative discussion of forest fire residuals Captures the state of knowledge with a meta-analysis of research trends during the past few decades, with a comprehensive review of the literature, a compilation of key references, and a list of key topics relevant to the study of boreal wildfire residuals Identifies the major gaps and uncertainties in the present body of knowledge, including a critique of study techniques and reporting practices to date, and proposes a set of terms and definitions and a list of research questions and priorities Includes the authors’ observations and research experience from boreal Canada, and information extracted from interactions with North American and European ecologists, forest managers, and conservationists