Characterize and understand the different functions and the potential incompatibilities between them
Enhance forest productivity in a sustainable manner. Understand how the social and natural environments create, reinforce and localize the tradeoffs between the multiple functions of forestry. These understandings can constrain and guide developments in the following areas of AKST.
• Breeding trees for the future (for specialized plantations): study molecular, biochemical and physiological processes determining wood and fiber properties, water and nutrition biology and interactions with insects and microorganisms; this could include the identification and functional analysis of relevant tree genes as well as the elucidation of signal pathways and components required for the expression of genes important in tree improvement. More effective breeding strategies could be developed using molecular genetics including genetic engineering in order to use them to generate new tree varieties with characteristics that fit the local multifunctional needs of forestry; these may include wood fiber characteristics that provide enhanced economic as well as environmental value (higher cellulose, lower lignin, fewer chemicals during paper manufacturing, stronger rot resistant wood (for construction), xenobiotic de-graders for phytoremediation, biotic and abiotic stress tolerances to allow expansion of forests to harsher climates or more marginal lands, hypoallergenic pollen producers to enhance urban landscapes without jeopardizing health) (FTP, 2007);
• Developing tools to anticipate new invasive species problems in forestry and improve tools to manage existing invasive plants, insect pests and pathogens, which are one of the major threats to forest quality in the NAE (Pimentel et al., 2000; Allen and Humble, 2002);
• Enhancing the availability and use of forest biomass for products and energy and finding a balance between the increasing demand for forest biomass for energy production and an increasing demand for forest-based products; and
• Accentuating the environmental assets of wood (compared to other materials) by developing innovative products for changing markets and customer needs: intelligent and efficient manufacturing processes that require little or no chemical products, reduced energy consumption, etc. (Forest-based Sector Technology Platform, Vision 2030).
Provide environmental and social services. Important areas for the development of knowledge, science and technology in forest management include:
• Analyzing the role of biological diversity (both functional and heritage value) and other factors (soil, water) in maintaining the stability and primary production of forest ecosystems (UNECE-FAO, 2005);
• Forecasting future dynamics of forest biodiversity and productivity, especially in relation to environmental change;
• Exploring further the positive effects of forests on water quality and accordingly exploring the potential benefits of urban and periurban forests; |
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• Evaluating the impacts of exurban sprawl on forest fragmentation and forest quality; and
• Continuing research activities that focus on determining the effects, at various scales, of optional forest management strategies on environmental services such as carbon sequestration and social services such as amenities and recreation (UNECE-FAO, 2005).
Once these different functions are characterized a clear definition can be developed with the help of indicators. These indicators could help to better assess and quantify these incompatibilities and also help in deciding where certain functions can be compromised compared to the others.
Define optimal management methods that guarantee the provision of these multiple functions
Defining optimal management methods can help better address this issue of multifunctionality at the appropriate geographical scales. Currently forest management can be broadly divided into three types. The first two types are based on complete geographic segregation of the different functions: intensive production forests that are dedicated solely to production (intensively managed conifer monocultures, e.g., Southern pines in the USA, Sitka spruce in the UK and maritime pine in France) and natural reserves that are left untouched with little or no human intervention. The third type is that of semi intensive forests ensuring production, environmental and social services, often using trees more adapted to local conditions.
There are many ways of guaranteeing the multifunctionality of forests based on the above mentioned three forest types. One way would be to have all the three forest types in the same zone and the other way would be to have only semi intensive forests wherein depending on the needs one function would dominate slightly over the other.
More research can shed light on how to optimize the overall distribution of intensive, natural reserves and semi intensive forests in NAE and its sub-regions, keeping in mind that total forest stocks have remained relatively constant in most of North America and are increasing throughout Europe (Karjalainen et al., 1999).
As at the local level semi intensive forests could be viewed as a complex multifunctional system. More research can contribute to developing models of this system as a whole (one that includes the production, environmental and social services) based on a meaningful knowledge representation elaborated with the help of the different stakeholders involved.
Provide methods and tools for monitoring and improving the environmental sustainability of forests:
• Extending existing and promoting new and integrated forest inventory services: develop tools for monitoring forest health, nutrition, greenhouse gas absorption, evolution of populations and communities, in addition to the traditional growth and yield studies (Birot et al., 2005);
• Adapting forestry to climate change (European Forest Inventory) (European Forest Institute, 2007), particularly in drought prone regions e.g., Southern Europe and Western United States; development of adaptive forest management methods comprised of heterogeneous |