8.01.07 – Boreal forest ecosystems

Unit 8.01.07

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The boreal forest is a large and varied ecosystem that spans over 14 million km² across three continents, providing important ecological services to local, regional and global populations, as well as being a source of direct economic and social benefits to many.  Changes in climate, increased forest management pressure and greater demands for preservation of its integrity all require an integrated knowledge of processes that govern the functioning of this ecosystem.

The activities of the Working Party are directed at developing a coherent body of knowledge on boreal forest ecosystems that bridges the gap between site and landscape scales, short-term and long-term processes, and theory and practice. In terms of climate, structure and function, subalpine forest ecosystems are in many instances similar to boreal ecosystems and are therefore included in WP 8.01.07.

Recent progress in forest research has advanced the knowledge of the system in several important domains:

1. Management of the boreal and subalpine forests is becoming a highly politicized as environmental groups call for increased restriction on forest management activities, while societal demands for products and services increase.  The debate is often tainted by misinformation as advocates either minimize or exaggerate the risks and impacts posed by human activities on the forest ecosystem.  The challenge facing the forest research community is to provide information to enlighten the debate, tools to minimize risks and optimize benefits, and solutions for meeting demands of society while preserving this vast natural heritage.

2. Climate change is arguably the most important environmental issue facing forests in the twenty-first century. Over the past two decades, the climate change debate and the resulting investment in research on the dynamics of the boreal and subalpine forests has resulted in significant gains in the understanding of both site-level and landscape-level processes, as well as of forest dynamics over time. Mitigation of climate change by managing natural resources to help reduce emissions of CO2 and increase ecosystem carbon stocks, while providing essential products and services, poses new challenges for resource managers. At the same time, forest managers must adapt to resources that are changing under the influence of a rapidly changing climate. Balancing the goals of mitigation and adaptation to climate change remains an important research issue.

3. Forest disturbances such as fire and insect epidemics have shaped the boreal forest ecosystem for millenia. In the past the disturbances were viewed as “threats” to the forest, but now are recognized as an essential part of natural ecosystem dynamics. Forest management adds a new disturbance to the forest landscape, and a long lasting imprint that has yet to be fully appreciated. The strategies for managing forest disturbances and their consequences remain the focus of active research.   

4. Biodiversity emerged as a major research theme in the last decades driven by public concern over the loss of species and their habitats in historically developed parts of the boreal and subalpine forest regions. Approaches to measuring the impact of management on biodiversity have been developed and measures to alleviate this impact are gaining acceptance.

5. Integration of new knowledge into the management of boreal and subalpine ecosystems has progressed significantly.  However, the unique role of the boreal zone in the global carbon cycle, the anticipated impacts of global change, the response to increasing demand for wood products, and the challenge of reconciling traditional and industrial forest use are all topics of broad international and global import. We expect further advances in boreal forest research on these issues and plan to promote the integration of new knowledge.

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