Transcript Resiliency and Adaptability

Resiliency and Adaptability
Managing Forests in the Context
of Climate Change
Jamie Simpson
November 1, 2012
2 Themes:
• Resilience through
Natural Diversity
• Uncertainty necessitates
Precautionary Principle
Acadian Forest Region
Prognosis: not so good
“The death rate of the most stable
and resilient forests in western
North America has doubled
during the past few decades as
the climate has warmed…
independent of other human
activities”
“… the global temperature rise is
likely affecting all the world’s
forests – from the Northern
boreal to the Eastern hardwoods
to the tropics”
~ Science, 2009
and the Acadian Forest...?
The future fate of the already highly stressed
ecosystems of the remnant Acadian
Forest remains uncertain. Shifts in the
abundance of insects, pathogens and
herbivores have the greatest potential to
adversely affect forests.
~ Vasseur, L. and N. Catto. 2008. From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada
in a Changing Climate: Atlantic Canada. Government of Canada,
Ottawa, p. 119-170.
Current situation = highly degraded
• Forests are younger and
highly fragmented
• Trend towards boreal species
(loss of species with southern
affiliation)
• Degraded habitat
• Nutrient depletion
Acadian Forest
= Endangered
~ World Wildlife Fund
What to do?
“Healthy forests that retain their natural
complexity and diversity in age and habitat
structure generally have greater stability
and resilience to withstand disturbances
associated with climate change.”
~ Union of Concerned Scientists
Biomass – How ‘Green’ Is It?
“No matter where it
comes from, forest
biomass is a green,
renewable source of
energy.”
- Steve Talbot, E.D.
NS Forest Products Association
Whole-tree biomass cutting
3 years later
Carbon emissions
• Replacing coal with forest biomass electricity:
carbon emissions go up for next several
decades
• Replacing natural gas with forest biomass
electricity: carbon emissions go up for over 90
years
• Massachusetts: changing their renewable
energy laws on biomass
(Manomet study, June 2010)
Mature Forests
“There is a widespread and
misguided belief that logging or
clearing mature forests and
replacing them with fast-growing
younger trees will benefit the
climate by sequestering
atmospheric CO2.”
~ Harmon, M.E., W.K. Ferrell and J.K. Franklin.
1990. Effects on carbon storage of
conversion of old-growth forests to young
forests. Science 247: 699-702.
Forest carbon storage in the northeastern United States: Net effects of
harvesting frequency, post-harvest retention, and wood products
To Do: Responsible
Management
1. Shift to ecosystem-based
harvesting and silviculture
• Uneven-aged
• Old forest species
2. Stop whole-tree
harvesting
3. Significantly reduce
clearcutting
4. Complete protected areas
network (>12%)
Question:
Does any Maritime
province have a
specific plan to
address climate
change mitigation for
our forests?