ORF, an operational framework to measure resilience in social–ecological systems: the forest case study

Sustainability Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(5), P. 1579 - 1593

Published: May 21, 2024

Abstract Resilience is commonly addressed when dealing with the sustainable planning and management of social–ecological systems, but we lack a unified framework for its quantitative assessment application. We present an operational resilience (ORF) based on recognizing relating several elements: system variables (e.g., ecosystem services), disturbances stressors acting at given spatiotemporal scales, reference state, metrics comparing observed to state. These elements fit into rationale aimed identifying predictors suitable be managed co-drivers which describe non-manageable context, reflecting mechanisms involved in resilience. By systematic search presence ORF concepts 453 empirical studies assessing resilience, corroborate that can applied forest systems. This literature survey shows are recognized, although logical narrative them not always explicit, particularly socioeconomic-focused studies. advocate proposed allows standardize terminology frame measure allowing sounder comparisons better-supported recommendations improvement

Language: Английский

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A rapid transition from spruce-fir to pine-broadleaf forests in response to disturbances and climate warming on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Plant Diversity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 1, 2023

A better understanding of the structure and dynamics disturbed forests is key for forecasting their future successional trajectories. Despite vulnerability subalpine to warming climate, little known as how community composition has responded disturbances climate over decades. Before 1970s, on southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau mainly experienced logging fire, but afterwards they were more impacted by warming. Thus, provide an excellent setting test whether led changes in forest structure. Based analysis 3145 inventory plots at 4- 5-year resolution, we found that spruce-fir shifted pine broadleaved since early 1970s. Such a turnover species occurred 1994–1998 period. By strongly altering site conditions, concert with reshuffle warm-adapted broadleaf-pine species. moderate through gradual loss resilience forests. Shifts these foundation will have profound impacts ecosystem functions services. In future, could expand rapidly than evergreen needle-leaved under scenarios. addition effects anthropogenic should be considered adaptive management projections changes.

Language: Английский

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Accelerated cropland expansion into high integrity forests and protected areas globally in the 21st century

iScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(4), P. 106450 - 106450

Published: March 20, 2023

Intact forests and protected areas (PAs) are central to global biodiversity conservation nature-based climate change mitigation. However, cropland encroachment threatens the ecological integrity resilience of their functioning. Using satellite observations, we find that a large proportion croplands in remaining globally have been gained during 2003-2019, especially for high-integrity (62%) non-forest biomes (60%) tropical (47%). Cropland expansion 2011-2019 has even doubled (130% relative increase) than 2003-2011, with high medium-integrity (190%) (165%) categories (182%) forest (136%) showing higher acceleration. Unexpectedly, quarter PAs were again recent accelerated (48%). These results suggest insufficient protection these irreplaceable landscapes major challenge conservation. More effective local, national, international coordination among sustainable development goals 15, 13, 2 is urgently needed.

Language: Английский

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System-level feedbacks of active fire regimes in large landscapes

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: July 31, 2023

Abstract Background Climate is a main driver of fire regimes, but recurrent fires provide stabilizing feedbacks at several spatial scales that can limit spread and severity—potentially contributing to form self-regulation. Evaluating the strength these in wildland systems difficult given temporal observation required. Here, we used REBURN model directly examine relative strengths top-down bottom-up drivers over 3000-year simulation period, within 275,000-ha conifer-dominated landscape north central Washington State, USA. Results We found strong support for controls on patterns. Fire weather was large occurrence, area burned moderated by ignition frequencies areas limited fuels fuel contagion (i.e., fences). Landscapes comprised >40% fences rarely experienced years. When did occur during recovery time 100–300 years or more generally required recover pre-fire vegetation Conclusions Simulations showed interactions between weather, contagion, topography, ignitions manifest variability size severity patch distributions. Burned recovering mosaics provided functional feedbacks, kind meta stability, which future severity, even under extreme conditions. be applied new geographic physiographic landscapes simulate represent natural culturally influenced regimes historical, current, climatic settings.

Language: Английский

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Refuge‐yeah or refuge‐nah? Predicting locations of forest resistance and recruitment in a fiery world

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(24), P. 7029 - 7050

Published: Sept. 14, 2023

Climate warming, land use change, and altered fire regimes are driving ecological transformations that can have critical effects on Earth's biota. Fire refugia-locations burned less frequently or severely than their surroundings-may act as sites of relative stability during this period rapid change by being resistant to supporting post-fire recovery in adjacent areas. Because value forest ecosystem persistence, there is an urgent need anticipate where refugia most likely be found they align with environmental conditions support tree recruitment. Using biophysical predictors patterns burn severity from 1180 recent events, we mapped the locations potential across upland conifer forests southwestern United States (US) (99,428 km2 area), a region highly vulnerable fire-driven transformation. We low pre-fire cover, flat slopes topographic concavities, moderate weather conditions, spring-season burning, areas affected low- moderate-severity within previous 15 years were commonly associated refugia. Based current (i.e., 2021) predicted 67.6% 18.1% our study area would contain under extreme weather, respectively. However, 36.4% (moderate weather) 31.2% (extreme more common experienced fires, increased prescribed resource objective fires promote fire-resistant landscapes. When overlaid models recruitment, 23.2% 6.4% classified high recruitment surrounding landscape. These may disproportionately valuable for sustainability, providing habitat fire-sensitive species maintaining persistence increasingly fire-prone world.

Language: Английский

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