Research Branch Staff Publications

Forest management and climate change.

Citation:

Spittlehouse, D.L. 1997. Forest management and climate change. In Responding to Global Climate Change in British Columbia and the Yukon. E. Taylor and B. Taylor (editors). Environment Canada, Vancouver, B.C. pp.24-1 - 24-8.

Abstract:

Forest management decisions made now will effect forests many decades into the future. Thus it is important for managers to take account of how forests may respond to future climatic conditions. Unfortunately, the picture of what the climate will be at specific locations and times in the future is not clear. Even less clear is the picture of how organisms will respond. Consequently, management actions to address climate change must be flexible and such that they do not compromise the health of the forest should the climate not change as predicted. Actions will further be complicated by differing values placed on forests by society, disagreement on whether impacts of climate change are positive or negative, and the priority of governments for addressing other impacts. Also, there will be increased pressure to manage forests to offset emissions from the burning of fossil fuel and to moderate the effects of climate change on non-timber resources. Incorporating responses into forest management planning requires: A clear definition the problem, that is, the level of change at which action is needed. The determination of the sensitivity of forest organisms to a changing climate. The development of management responses to be implemented when the changes occur, and implementation of actions needed now. Monitoring of forests to assess if and when changes are occurring.

Disturbances of forests, such as harvesting and forest fires, provide opportunities for forests to adjust to the changing climate. The success of adjustment will depend on factors such as the sensitivity of species to climate change and the availability of alternate species. We may be capable of aiding managed forest and commercial tree species to adjust to a changing climate; however, in parks and wilderness areas we will probably have to 'let nature take its course'. Forest management already addresses many of the problems, such as fire, disease, insects and reforestation failures, that are will occur under a changed climate; it is the location and extent of the problems that will change. It may be appropriate to plant a mixture of ecotypes to produce forests that can adjust to a changing climate. Established forests are resilient, and there should be time to adapt to some potentially negative impacts. Society will need to revise its expectations of, and demands on, forests, and there may be adjustments required by groups who's livelihood is based on the use of forests.

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