The response of forests to climate change: the role of silviculture in conserving threatened species

Summary

Predicted climatic changes within the next forty years could lead to the extinction of some Australian forest species from their present environments. Rates of change in critical environmental conditions may exceed the rate of dispersal of species so that natural biological processes may not be sufficient to ensure the continuation of species in the most suitable environments. Most plant species will grow satisfactorily beyond their natural distribution ranges provided critical growth stages are facilitated and physical factors and competition are managed appropriately. The nature and extent of physical changes and the biological attributes of species must be better understood in order to apply adaptive measures. An important role for forests outside conservation reserves will be to act as repositories for species threatened by climate change. Silviculture can and should be used within these forests to maintain species in desired locations and to introduce them to suitable new locations. Native forest silviculture is complex and our understanding of most species is limited, but we must strive to overcome the effects of past disturbances and realise the many benefits that forests can provide in the future.

Keywords:

• climate
• forests
• change
• adaptation
• extinction
• management
• productivity