Mitigation potential of sustainably managed forests (original) (raw)

2009

Abstract

ABSTRACT Many areas of British conifer forests will be due for felling in the next 10–20 years, which represents a major opportunity for adapting forests to future climate. Greater use of more southerly provenances is possible for all the major conifers so reducing their vulnerability to climate change. Managers should use a mix of forest management alternatives to obtain the best out-turn in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Intimate species mixtures are only likely to be viable in broadleaved woods and mosaic mixtures should be preferred elsewhere. Current policies seeking to diversify plantation forests through changes in species and structure may cause a decline in carbon sequestration unless this is offset by the use of more productive genotypes. When planning future planting programmes, greater emphasis should be given to species carbon content, and to their rates of carbon sequestration. Forest planning and management must take uncertainty and risk into account. Current policies are resulting in more stands being retained for longer which will increase the risk of windthrow and disturbance to forest and soil carbon stocks. Stands which are currently marginal because of soil moisture requirement are likely to prove vulnerable to climate change adding to the threat from established and new pests and pathogens. Improved methods of forest planning are needed that take uncertainty into account, increase the resilience of British forests to climate change and enhance their role in carbon sequestration. These methods will need to be supported by appropriate training.

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