A Critique of Silviculture: Managing for ComplexityThe discipline of silviculture is at a crossroads. Silviculturists are under increasing pressure to develop practices that sustain the full function and dynamics of forested ecosystems and maintain ecosystem diversity and resilience while still providing needed wood products. A Critique of Silviculture offers a penetrating look at the current state of the field and provides suggestions for its future development. The book includes an overview of the historical developments of silvicultural techniques and describes how these developments are best understood in their contemporary philosophical, social, and ecological contexts. It also explains how the traditional strengths of silviculture are becoming limitations as society demands a varied set of benefits from forests and as we learn more about the importance of diversity on ecosystem functions and processes. The authors go on to explain how other fields, specifically ecology and complexity science, have developed in attempts to understand the diversity of nature and the variability and heterogeneity of ecosystems. The authors suggest that ideas and approaches from these fields could offer a road map to a new philosophical and practical approach that endorses managing forests as complex adaptive systems. A Critique of Silviculture bridges a gap between silviculture and ecology that has long hindered the adoption of new ideas. It breaks the mold of disciplinary thinking by directly linking new ideas and findings in ecology and complexity science to the field of silviculture. This is a critically important book that is essential reading for anyone involved with forest ecology, forestry, silviculture, or the management of forested ecosystems. |
Contents
1 | |
Silviculture | 41 |
Ecology | 70 |
Silviculture and Ecology | 86 |
Managing Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems | 107 |
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Common terms and phrases
activities agricultural allow applied approach aspects became better central central Europe century challenges chap characteristics clearcutting communities complex adaptive systems composition concept considered continuous cutting described designed desired discipline discussion distribution disturbances diversity dynamics early ecological ecologists economic effects efforts established et al Europe example experiments factors focus forest ecosystems forest management forestry functions growth harvesting heterogeneity homogeneous human impacts important increased individual influence intensive interactions interest landscape levels limited maintain managed forests Mantel ment methods models multiple natural North operations organisms patterns plant plots population predictability processes production range regeneration regions relationships requires resilience response scales scientific seed selection shelterwood silvicultural practices silvicultural systems silviculturists similar single spatial stand structure successful suggests theory thinning tion treatment tree species typically understanding uneven-aged units variability variety vegetation wood yield