Tag: adaptation strategies

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Will Black Oaks Survive Climate Change in the Midwest?

tree
Black oaks may face many threats from climate change in the coming years. Photo: Willow, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5)

The survival of some species of oaks, among them black oak, have been threatened as forested areas in North America are cleared for agriculture, urban development, and other forms of development.  It is a major goal of many forest managers to maintain current populations of oak (Quercus spp.) for timber, wildlife, and conservation biology. Currently, black oak is distributed throughout …

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Management Strategies for Family Forests

An Ohio forest
Figure 1. Millions of American families own forested land.

Written by Eli Sagor, University of Minnesota

About Family Forests

The term “family forests” refers to forested or wooded property owned by individuals or families. This same ownership group is sometimes referred to in research as non-industrial private forest landowners. Family forests account for about 60% of the nation’s forested and wooded land, the vast majority of which is in ownerships smaller than 500 acres. The decisions that the nation’s 10.4 …

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The Debate about Assisted Migration

Adapted from McLachlan, J.S., J.J. Hellman, and M.W. Schwartz. 2007. A framework for debate of assisted migration in an era of climate change. Conservation Biology. 21(2):297-302. Quotes taken from: Nijhuis, M., 2008. Taking wilderness in hand: rescuing species. Orion Magazine, May/June 2008.
Figure 1. The Torreya Guardians have already begun to transplant members of the southeastern conifer Torreya taxifolia beyond its native habitat in Florida and Georgia, an issue that sparks debate about assisted migration. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
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Assisted Migration

Written by Glenn Ahrens, Oregon State University
Figure 1. A lodgepole pine provenance experiment in New Zealand (Wright 1976).

Trees are genetically adapted to local climate. As climate changes, local populations may become maladapted. Because many tree species do not produce seed for several years after establishment, and because multiple generations are required for adaptation to occur, climate is expected to change faster than species or populations can adapt. One potential solution is assisted migration – the deliberate establishment of …

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Managing for Biodiversity Loss from Climate Change

Adapted from: Manley, P. 2008. Biodiversity and Climate Change. (May 20, 2008). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center. http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/topics/biodiversity.shtml

Managing for biodiversity and the potential loss of species due to a changing climate poses several challenges toward the management of natural resources. The loss of keystone species, species redundancy, and/or unique species may lead to loss of specific ecosystem services and processes as well as less overall plant and animal community resilience to environmental stressors. Identifying …

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Climate Change Adaptation for Forests

Image:Master forest owners.jpgTo help forests adapt to changes in climate, landowners must consider several aspects of land management.

 

Adapted from
Millar, Constance I., Nathan L. Stephenson, and Scott L. Stephens, 2008. (Feb. 5, 2008) Climate Change Resource Center. Re-Framing Forest and Resource Management Strategies for a Climate Change Context PDF U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

 

Figure 1. Adapting to climate change requires the cooperation of a variety of landowners, natural resource specialists, and local citizen groups to tackle the many
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Monitoring Woodlands for Climate Impacts

A forest in northern Ohio.
Figure 1. Monitoring your forest starts with walking through it.

Written by Eli Sagor, University of Minnesota

Importance of forest health monitoring

Early detection of new local forest health threats will be important. A changing climate will make trees and woodlands more stressed, and that stress will make them more vulnerable to widespread mortality from insect and disease threats.

Because the specific insects and diseases likely to invade are not always known, it’s important that woodland owners carefully monitor conditions …

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Promote Resilience to Change

Adapted from: Millar, Constance I., Nathan L. Stephenson, and Scott L. Stephens, 2008. (February 5, 2008). Reframing forest and resource management strategies for a climate change context. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center. Media: millar020508.pdf

Figure 1. Thinning of overly dense pine stands can promote resilience to wildfire and, thus, to climate change, as confirmed by research in California’s Blacks Mountain Experimental Forest. After the pine stand (left) underwent mechanical thinning followed by a prescribed

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Adaptive Forest Management Strategies

Adapted from: Millar, Constance I., Nathan L. Stephenson, and Scott L. Stephens, 2008. (February 5, 2008). Reframing forest and resource management strategies for a climate change context. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Climate Change Resource Center. Media: millar020508.pdf

While the future impacts of climate change on forests and other natural resources remain uncertain, a variety of approaches can help foresters and forest owners prepare to manage the land in their care under changing conditions. Understanding that a range …

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