Jonathan Lesven, Milva Druguet Dayras, Jonathan Cazabonne, François Gillet, Andre Arsenault, Damien Rius, Yves Bergeron
Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), is the dominant conifer species across a large part of North American boreal forests, providing many goods and services essential to human activities, and playing a major climatic role through the global carbon cycle. However, a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of climate change on black spruce has not yet been undertaken. The dynamics of black spruce are influenced by various living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors, as well as their combined effects, which are particularly responsive to changes in climate. Climate change predictions suggest that northern ecosystems will experience the world’s most significant impact. Therefore, black spruce is likely to undergo profound disruptions in its growth and mortality rate in the next decades, resulting in significant changes in forestry and carbon storage. However, these changes will not be uniform throughout the entire distribution of the species. Future changes in temperature and precipitation will create more stress for water availability in the boreal forests of western and central North America than in their eastern counterparts. Thus, significant longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in tree growth and mortality variability are expected throughout the range of the species. This literature review aims to summarise the impacts of climate change on individual tree growth and mortality of this major species. While enhanced black spruce productivity could occur through both increased air temperature and nitrogen mineralisation in the soil, moisture limitation in central and western North America will result in significant growth reduction and mortality events across these regions. Conversely, under the expected climate change scenarios, black spruce forests may be more resilient in eastern North America where climatic conditions appear more suitable, particularly in their northernmost range. In this review, we identify current research gaps for some disturbances, which should be addressed to better understand the impact of climate change on black spruce. Finally, we identify issues associated with sustainable forest management and the maintenance of black spruce under projected future climate changes.
{"title":"Future impacts of climate change on black spruce growth and mortality: Review and challenges","authors":"Jonathan Lesven, Milva Druguet Dayras, Jonathan Cazabonne, François Gillet, Andre Arsenault, Damien Rius, Yves Bergeron","doi":"10.1139/er-2023-0075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0075","url":null,"abstract":"Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), is the dominant conifer species across a large part of North American boreal forests, providing many goods and services essential to human activities, and playing a major climatic role through the global carbon cycle. However, a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of climate change on black spruce has not yet been undertaken. The dynamics of black spruce are influenced by various living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors, as well as their combined effects, which are particularly responsive to changes in climate. Climate change predictions suggest that northern ecosystems will experience the world’s most significant impact. Therefore, black spruce is likely to undergo profound disruptions in its growth and mortality rate in the next decades, resulting in significant changes in forestry and carbon storage. However, these changes will not be uniform throughout the entire distribution of the species. Future changes in temperature and precipitation will create more stress for water availability in the boreal forests of western and central North America than in their eastern counterparts. Thus, significant longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in tree growth and mortality variability are expected throughout the range of the species. This literature review aims to summarise the impacts of climate change on individual tree growth and mortality of this major species. While enhanced black spruce productivity could occur through both increased air temperature and nitrogen mineralisation in the soil, moisture limitation in central and western North America will result in significant growth reduction and mortality events across these regions. Conversely, under the expected climate change scenarios, black spruce forests may be more resilient in eastern North America where climatic conditions appear more suitable, particularly in their northernmost range. In this review, we identify current research gaps for some disturbances, which should be addressed to better understand the impact of climate change on black spruce. Finally, we identify issues associated with sustainable forest management and the maintenance of black spruce under projected future climate changes.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2024-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139811531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jonathan Lesven, Milva Druguet Dayras, Jonathan Cazabonne, François Gillet, Andre Arsenault, Damien Rius, Yves Bergeron
Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), is the dominant conifer species across a large part of North American boreal forests, providing many goods and services essential to human activities, and playing a major climatic role through the global carbon cycle. However, a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of climate change on black spruce has not yet been undertaken. The dynamics of black spruce are influenced by various living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors, as well as their combined effects, which are particularly responsive to changes in climate. Climate change predictions suggest that northern ecosystems will experience the world’s most significant impact. Therefore, black spruce is likely to undergo profound disruptions in its growth and mortality rate in the next decades, resulting in significant changes in forestry and carbon storage. However, these changes will not be uniform throughout the entire distribution of the species. Future changes in temperature and precipitation will create more stress for water availability in the boreal forests of western and central North America than in their eastern counterparts. Thus, significant longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in tree growth and mortality variability are expected throughout the range of the species. This literature review aims to summarise the impacts of climate change on individual tree growth and mortality of this major species. While enhanced black spruce productivity could occur through both increased air temperature and nitrogen mineralisation in the soil, moisture limitation in central and western North America will result in significant growth reduction and mortality events across these regions. Conversely, under the expected climate change scenarios, black spruce forests may be more resilient in eastern North America where climatic conditions appear more suitable, particularly in their northernmost range. In this review, we identify current research gaps for some disturbances, which should be addressed to better understand the impact of climate change on black spruce. Finally, we identify issues associated with sustainable forest management and the maintenance of black spruce under projected future climate changes.
{"title":"Future impacts of climate change on black spruce growth and mortality: Review and challenges","authors":"Jonathan Lesven, Milva Druguet Dayras, Jonathan Cazabonne, François Gillet, Andre Arsenault, Damien Rius, Yves Bergeron","doi":"10.1139/er-2023-0075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0075","url":null,"abstract":"Black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), is the dominant conifer species across a large part of North American boreal forests, providing many goods and services essential to human activities, and playing a major climatic role through the global carbon cycle. However, a comprehensive synthesis of the effects of climate change on black spruce has not yet been undertaken. The dynamics of black spruce are influenced by various living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors, as well as their combined effects, which are particularly responsive to changes in climate. Climate change predictions suggest that northern ecosystems will experience the world’s most significant impact. Therefore, black spruce is likely to undergo profound disruptions in its growth and mortality rate in the next decades, resulting in significant changes in forestry and carbon storage. However, these changes will not be uniform throughout the entire distribution of the species. Future changes in temperature and precipitation will create more stress for water availability in the boreal forests of western and central North America than in their eastern counterparts. Thus, significant longitudinal and latitudinal gradients in tree growth and mortality variability are expected throughout the range of the species. This literature review aims to summarise the impacts of climate change on individual tree growth and mortality of this major species. While enhanced black spruce productivity could occur through both increased air temperature and nitrogen mineralisation in the soil, moisture limitation in central and western North America will result in significant growth reduction and mortality events across these regions. Conversely, under the expected climate change scenarios, black spruce forests may be more resilient in eastern North America where climatic conditions appear more suitable, particularly in their northernmost range. In this review, we identify current research gaps for some disturbances, which should be addressed to better understand the impact of climate change on black spruce. Finally, we identify issues associated with sustainable forest management and the maintenance of black spruce under projected future climate changes.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2024-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139871050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaoshuang Wang, Zhixiang Zhou, Yang Xiang, Chucai Peng, Changhui Peng
Numerous empirical studies have demonstrated that street trees not only reduce dust pollution and absorb particulate matter (PM) but also improve microclimates, providing both ecological functions and aesthetic value. However, recent research has revealed that street tree canopy cover can impede the dispersion of atmospheric PM within street canyons, leading to the accumulation of street pollutants. Although many studies have investigated the impact of street trees on air pollutant dispersion within street canyons, the extent of their influence remains unclear and uncertain. Pollutant accumulation corresponds to the specific characteristics of individual street canyons, coupled with meteorological factors and pollution source strength. Notably, the characteristics of street tree canopy cover also exert a significant influence. There is still a quantitative research gap on street tree cover impacts with respect to pollution and dust reduction control measures within street spaces. To improve urban traffic environments, policymakers have mainly focused on scientifically based street vegetation deployment initiatives in building ecological garden cities and improving the living environment. To address uncertainties regarding the influence of street trees on the dispersion of atmospheric PM in urban streets, this study reviews dispersion mechanisms and key atmospheric PM factors in urban streets, summarizes the research approaches used to conceptualize atmospheric PM dispersion in urban street canyons, and examines urban plant efficiency in reducing atmospheric PM. Furthermore, we also address current challenges and future directions in this field to provide a more comprehensive understanding of atmospheric PM dispersion in urban streets and the role that street trees play in mitigating air pollution.
{"title":"Effects of street plants on atmospheric particulate dispersion in urban streets: A review","authors":"Xiaoshuang Wang, Zhixiang Zhou, Yang Xiang, Chucai Peng, Changhui Peng","doi":"10.1139/er-2023-0103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0103","url":null,"abstract":"Numerous empirical studies have demonstrated that street trees not only reduce dust pollution and absorb particulate matter (PM) but also improve microclimates, providing both ecological functions and aesthetic value. However, recent research has revealed that street tree canopy cover can impede the dispersion of atmospheric PM within street canyons, leading to the accumulation of street pollutants. Although many studies have investigated the impact of street trees on air pollutant dispersion within street canyons, the extent of their influence remains unclear and uncertain. Pollutant accumulation corresponds to the specific characteristics of individual street canyons, coupled with meteorological factors and pollution source strength. Notably, the characteristics of street tree canopy cover also exert a significant influence. There is still a quantitative research gap on street tree cover impacts with respect to pollution and dust reduction control measures within street spaces. To improve urban traffic environments, policymakers have mainly focused on scientifically based street vegetation deployment initiatives in building ecological garden cities and improving the living environment. To address uncertainties regarding the influence of street trees on the dispersion of atmospheric PM in urban streets, this study reviews dispersion mechanisms and key atmospheric PM factors in urban streets, summarizes the research approaches used to conceptualize atmospheric PM dispersion in urban street canyons, and examines urban plant efficiency in reducing atmospheric PM. Furthermore, we also address current challenges and future directions in this field to provide a more comprehensive understanding of atmospheric PM dispersion in urban streets and the role that street trees play in mitigating air pollution.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139591986","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Itzel Guzmán-Vázquez, Leticia Bonilla-Valencia, Leopoldo Galicia
Climate change has profound impacts on ecosystems, and one critical aspect is its effect on seed germination, a crucial stage in plant life cycles. Various studies have explored the responses of plant species to rising temperatures, and there is now a pressing need to integrate this wealth of information into a coherent framework. The aim of this study was to survey literature about seed traits and thence to evaluate germination responses to climate change and to propose functional groups for germination. Increased temperature affects seed traits, particularly germinability. Many species show increased germination percentages in warmer temperatures, although the extent varies among species and temperature ranges. Some maintain a consistent percentage, whereas others reduce it to retain seeds in the seed bank. Temperature changes also affect the timing and season of germination, with some species accelerating germination, others delaying it, thereby influencing competition and exposure to adverse conditions. Shifts in temperature can alter seed requirements, affecting responses to temperature, humidity, light, chemical stimuli, and dormancy. Modifications in germination have profound effects on seed bank and seedling bank dynamics, affecting plant populations and ecological community resilience. Changes in germination can disrupt competitive dynamics, favoring some over others, altering community composition and potentially impairing ecosystem functionality. Germination Niche, Germination Potential, and Germination Phenology are fundamental concepts in the evaluation of climate change's implications for germination.
{"title":"Functional Attributes of Seeds as Indicators of Germination Sensitivity to Global Warming","authors":"Itzel Guzmán-Vázquez, Leticia Bonilla-Valencia, Leopoldo Galicia","doi":"10.1139/er-2023-0066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0066","url":null,"abstract":"Climate change has profound impacts on ecosystems, and one critical aspect is its effect on seed germination, a crucial stage in plant life cycles. Various studies have explored the responses of plant species to rising temperatures, and there is now a pressing need to integrate this wealth of information into a coherent framework. The aim of this study was to survey literature about seed traits and thence to evaluate germination responses to climate change and to propose functional groups for germination. Increased temperature affects seed traits, particularly germinability. Many species show increased germination percentages in warmer temperatures, although the extent varies among species and temperature ranges. Some maintain a consistent percentage, whereas others reduce it to retain seeds in the seed bank. Temperature changes also affect the timing and season of germination, with some species accelerating germination, others delaying it, thereby influencing competition and exposure to adverse conditions. Shifts in temperature can alter seed requirements, affecting responses to temperature, humidity, light, chemical stimuli, and dormancy. Modifications in germination have profound effects on seed bank and seedling bank dynamics, affecting plant populations and ecological community resilience. Changes in germination can disrupt competitive dynamics, favoring some over others, altering community composition and potentially impairing ecosystem functionality. Germination Niche, Germination Potential, and Germination Phenology are fundamental concepts in the evaluation of climate change's implications for germination.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139614774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Zhan, Aiai Shu, Yongming Han, Junji Cao, Xianli Liu
Incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels yields a variety of chemically distinct pyrolysis residues collectively referred to as black carbon (BC). Among these residues, dissolved black carbon (DBC) constitutes the water-soluble fraction, making it a significant component of the global dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool. Consequently, it exerts an impact on the aquatic carbon cycle and global climate change. Owing to its unique molecular structure, DBC exhibits reduced reactivity in aquatic environments, thereby influencing the toxicity and environmental geochemical behavior of organic pollutants and heavy metals. While recent years have seen a surge in studies on DBC, yielding valuable insights, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the fate and cycling of DBC. This review consolidates the advancements in analytical and determination methods for DBC and offers a critical assessment of the advantages and limitations associated with various analytical techniques. Furthermore, it comprehensively surveys our current understanding of DBC, encompassing its molecular composition, spatial distribution, sources, and biogeochemical processes. The review also underscores prevailing challenges related to quantitative and qualitative methods and underscores research gaps concerning the physic-chemical transformation of DBC. The overarching aim is to advance our comprehension of the biogeochemical cycle of DBC.
{"title":"A review on the analytical methods, chemical structures, distribution characteristics, sources, and biogeochemical processes of dissolved black carbon","authors":"C. Zhan, Aiai Shu, Yongming Han, Junji Cao, Xianli Liu","doi":"10.1139/er-2023-0092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0092","url":null,"abstract":"Incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels yields a variety of chemically distinct pyrolysis residues collectively referred to as black carbon (BC). Among these residues, dissolved black carbon (DBC) constitutes the water-soluble fraction, making it a significant component of the global dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool. Consequently, it exerts an impact on the aquatic carbon cycle and global climate change. Owing to its unique molecular structure, DBC exhibits reduced reactivity in aquatic environments, thereby influencing the toxicity and environmental geochemical behavior of organic pollutants and heavy metals. While recent years have seen a surge in studies on DBC, yielding valuable insights, significant knowledge gaps persist regarding the fate and cycling of DBC. This review consolidates the advancements in analytical and determination methods for DBC and offers a critical assessment of the advantages and limitations associated with various analytical techniques. Furthermore, it comprehensively surveys our current understanding of DBC, encompassing its molecular composition, spatial distribution, sources, and biogeochemical processes. The review also underscores prevailing challenges related to quantitative and qualitative methods and underscores research gaps concerning the physic-chemical transformation of DBC. The overarching aim is to advance our comprehension of the biogeochemical cycle of DBC.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139441484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wetlands comprise unique water storage and conveyance mechanisms that maintain landscape integrity under the sub-humid climate in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area. In addition to their internal function, wetlands support a two-way hydrological connection to adjacent uplands and provide water for downstream water courses. Understanding the role of wetlands as integral parts of surface water (SW) – groundwater (GW) exchange can provide insights into the functioning of the hydrological system as a whole and contribute to thoughtful water management strategies and better coordination of monitoring efforts in the areas affected by oil sands (OS) activities. As such, this paper summarizes the current state of hydrological knowledge on the role of wetlands in SW – GW interactions based on studies conducted within the Western Boreal Plains. In particular, the role of wetland soils and their properties in SW – GW interactions, the effects of wetlands on landscape hydrological connectivity and watershed runoff, and features of ‘wetland – aquifer” and “wetland – open waterbody” interactions were reviewed. Given that alteration of SW – GW interactions in wetlands can occur as a result of anthropogenic disturbances, coordination of GW, SW, and wetland monitoring efforts and targeting areas where increased SW – GW exchange occurs would be beneficial for the economic and logistical efficiency of the OS monitoring network.
{"title":"Wetlands as integral parts of surface water – groundwater interactions in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area: review and synthesis","authors":"O. Volik, Richard Petrone, Jonathan Price","doi":"10.1139/er-2023-0064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0064","url":null,"abstract":"Wetlands comprise unique water storage and conveyance mechanisms that maintain landscape integrity under the sub-humid climate in the Athabasca Oil Sands Area. In addition to their internal function, wetlands support a two-way hydrological connection to adjacent uplands and provide water for downstream water courses. Understanding the role of wetlands as integral parts of surface water (SW) – groundwater (GW) exchange can provide insights into the functioning of the hydrological system as a whole and contribute to thoughtful water management strategies and better coordination of monitoring efforts in the areas affected by oil sands (OS) activities. As such, this paper summarizes the current state of hydrological knowledge on the role of wetlands in SW – GW interactions based on studies conducted within the Western Boreal Plains. In particular, the role of wetland soils and their properties in SW – GW interactions, the effects of wetlands on landscape hydrological connectivity and watershed runoff, and features of ‘wetland – aquifer” and “wetland – open waterbody” interactions were reviewed. Given that alteration of SW – GW interactions in wetlands can occur as a result of anthropogenic disturbances, coordination of GW, SW, and wetland monitoring efforts and targeting areas where increased SW – GW exchange occurs would be beneficial for the economic and logistical efficiency of the OS monitoring network.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138599487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Effah Kwabena Antwi, Henrike Burkhardt, John Boakye-Danquah, Tyler Christopher Doucet, Evisa Abolina
With its northern location, the exposure and vulnerability of Canada’s forest ecosystems to climate change impacts are all too glaring. While there is now an extensive body of literature describing expected climate change impacts and potential responses, studies characterizing the implementation of adaptation and mitigation practices in forest management remain rare in the Canadian forest sector. Using a systematic literature review approach, we examined reports on forest management practices implemented in response to climate change, specifically focusing on governance and institutional arrangements that either support or limit climate change adaptation and mitigation responses. Our literature sample size of 24 documents suggests that the body of literature reporting on adaptation and mitigation practices in Canadian forest management is scarce. Governments remain the dominant actors providing funding and leading the implementation and reporting of climate change adaptation activities, primarily in response to national or international climate change commitments. Forest practices such as enhanced silviculture, assisted migration, and nature-based solutions were the most frequently reported. However, given the scarcity of literature, it is difficult to conclude the scope of practice uptake in Canada. Barriers such as lack of information/data, inter-jurisdictional knowledge transfer, policy conflicts, forest tenure models, technical capacity gaps, and economic barriers to adaptation need to be overcome in order to strengthen climate change response in forest management in Canada. Better coordination of reporting at the provincial and national levels and improved information flows between the private and governments are needed.
{"title":"Review of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Implementation in Canada’s Forest Ecosystems Part II: Successes and Barriers to Effective Implementation","authors":"Effah Kwabena Antwi, Henrike Burkhardt, John Boakye-Danquah, Tyler Christopher Doucet, Evisa Abolina","doi":"10.1139/er-2022-0131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2022-0131","url":null,"abstract":"With its northern location, the exposure and vulnerability of Canada’s forest ecosystems to climate change impacts are all too glaring. While there is now an extensive body of literature describing expected climate change impacts and potential responses, studies characterizing the implementation of adaptation and mitigation practices in forest management remain rare in the Canadian forest sector. Using a systematic literature review approach, we examined reports on forest management practices implemented in response to climate change, specifically focusing on governance and institutional arrangements that either support or limit climate change adaptation and mitigation responses. Our literature sample size of 24 documents suggests that the body of literature reporting on adaptation and mitigation practices in Canadian forest management is scarce. Governments remain the dominant actors providing funding and leading the implementation and reporting of climate change adaptation activities, primarily in response to national or international climate change commitments. Forest practices such as enhanced silviculture, assisted migration, and nature-based solutions were the most frequently reported. However, given the scarcity of literature, it is difficult to conclude the scope of practice uptake in Canada. Barriers such as lack of information/data, inter-jurisdictional knowledge transfer, policy conflicts, forest tenure models, technical capacity gaps, and economic barriers to adaptation need to be overcome in order to strengthen climate change response in forest management in Canada. Better coordination of reporting at the provincial and national levels and improved information flows between the private and governments are needed.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135192476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Effah Kwabena Antwi, Henrike Burkhardt, John Boakye-Danquah, Tyler Christopher Doucet, Evisa Abolina
Canada is recognized as a global leader in sustainable forest management. Canadian forests and the forest sector remain vital pillars of the Canadian economy and home to many rural and remote communities. However, climate change is an existential threat to the sustainability of forests and forest-dependent communities. While both direct and indirect threats posed by climate change to Canada’s forest sector are now well understood, our understanding of specific forest practices that have emerged from the body of science to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts is not well documented. Through a review of the scientific and grey literature, this paper expands our knowledge and operational gaps associated with implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation practices in Canadian forests. The study found a dearth of literature specifically dedicated to reporting on the type of forest practices currently in use across Canada to address mitigation and adaptation. Most reports or studies were published in 2019 or later, with federal and provincial governments being the dominant actors in reporting and monitoring, research, and funding. Across the 15 terrestrial ecozones in Canada, forest practices linked to climate change were reported in 12 ecozones, with most practices reported in the Montane Cordillera located in western Canada. Common forest practices reported include fuel management, assisted migration, enhanced silvicultural activities, and carbon offset projects. We conclude that climate change adaptation/mitigation practices in Canada are in their early stages of implementation. Many practices remain in experimental stages (e.g., genetic trials) or are implemented at a relatively small scale in Canada (e.g., climate-based seed transfer, carbon reserves). The literature suggests that the most mainstream practices associated with climate change mitigation in Canada include tree planting for carbon sequestration and the designation of protected areas to enhance ecosystem resilience. We conclude that despite increasing reports linking climate change benefits with reported forest practices, the reporting in the scientific literature is scarce, poorly reported, and often not grounded in credible evidence.
{"title":"Review of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Implementation in Canada’s Forest Ecosystems Part I: Reporting, Science and institutional/governance supporting practices in Canada","authors":"Effah Kwabena Antwi, Henrike Burkhardt, John Boakye-Danquah, Tyler Christopher Doucet, Evisa Abolina","doi":"10.1139/er-2022-0130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2022-0130","url":null,"abstract":"Canada is recognized as a global leader in sustainable forest management. Canadian forests and the forest sector remain vital pillars of the Canadian economy and home to many rural and remote communities. However, climate change is an existential threat to the sustainability of forests and forest-dependent communities. While both direct and indirect threats posed by climate change to Canada’s forest sector are now well understood, our understanding of specific forest practices that have emerged from the body of science to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts is not well documented. Through a review of the scientific and grey literature, this paper expands our knowledge and operational gaps associated with implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation practices in Canadian forests. The study found a dearth of literature specifically dedicated to reporting on the type of forest practices currently in use across Canada to address mitigation and adaptation. Most reports or studies were published in 2019 or later, with federal and provincial governments being the dominant actors in reporting and monitoring, research, and funding. Across the 15 terrestrial ecozones in Canada, forest practices linked to climate change were reported in 12 ecozones, with most practices reported in the Montane Cordillera located in western Canada. Common forest practices reported include fuel management, assisted migration, enhanced silvicultural activities, and carbon offset projects. We conclude that climate change adaptation/mitigation practices in Canada are in their early stages of implementation. Many practices remain in experimental stages (e.g., genetic trials) or are implemented at a relatively small scale in Canada (e.g., climate-based seed transfer, carbon reserves). The literature suggests that the most mainstream practices associated with climate change mitigation in Canada include tree planting for carbon sequestration and the designation of protected areas to enhance ecosystem resilience. We conclude that despite increasing reports linking climate change benefits with reported forest practices, the reporting in the scientific literature is scarce, poorly reported, and often not grounded in credible evidence.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135341437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Forests contain substantial carbon stores, including above and below ground, living and non-living biomass. Different management regimes produce different outcomes related to stored and sequestered carbon in forests. The geographic focus of this paper is the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest of the Maritime Provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). This manuscript reviews literature to evaluate the carbon impacts of (1) intensive forest management for fiber products, (2) unharvested (or conservation) forest, and (3) climate-focused, ecological forestry. Each of these forest management strategies and concomitant silviculture regimes sequester and store carbon at varying rates and across different carbon pools in the forest. The literature suggests that unharvested (conservation) forests store and sequester the most carbon, and traditional, intensive fiber management stores and sequesters the least. Ecological forestry may provide the best balance between carbon sequestration and storage and climate adaptability, while also allowing for the provision of some timber/fibre products. This paper also discusses the co-benefits offered by forests under each of the three management regimes. New research, in general and in the region, needs to examine further below-ground carbon dynamics in soil as most efforts to document carbon focuses on above ground carbon pools.
{"title":"Carbon sequestration and storage implications of three forest management regimes in the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest: A review of the evidence
","authors":"Emma Cox, Thomas M. Beckley, Megan de Graaf","doi":"10.1139/er-2022-0097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2022-0097","url":null,"abstract":"Forests contain substantial carbon stores, including above and below ground, living and non-living biomass. Different management regimes produce different outcomes related to stored and sequestered carbon in forests. The geographic focus of this paper is the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest of the Maritime Provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). This manuscript reviews literature to evaluate the carbon impacts of (1) intensive forest management for fiber products, (2) unharvested (or conservation) forest, and (3) climate-focused, ecological forestry. Each of these forest management strategies and concomitant silviculture regimes sequester and store carbon at varying rates and across different carbon pools in the forest. The literature suggests that unharvested (conservation) forests store and sequester the most carbon, and traditional, intensive fiber management stores and sequesters the least. Ecological forestry may provide the best balance between carbon sequestration and storage and climate adaptability, while also allowing for the provision of some timber/fibre products. This paper also discusses the co-benefits offered by forests under each of the three management regimes. New research, in general and in the region, needs to examine further below-ground carbon dynamics in soil as most efforts to document carbon focuses on above ground carbon pools.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136062894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Meagan Harper, Trina Rytwinski, Irena F. Creed, Brian Helmuth, John P Smol, Joseph R Bennett, Dalal Hanna, Leonardo A. Saravia, Juan Rocha, Charlotte Carrier-Belleau, Aubrey Foulk, Ana Hernandez Martinez De La Riva, Courtney Robichaud, Lauren Sallan, Angeli Sahdra, Steven J Cooke
Ecosystems experiencing pressures are at risk of rapidly transitioning (‘tipping’) from one state to another. Identifying and managing these so-called tipping points continues to be a challenge in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, particularly when multiple potentially interacting drivers are present. Knowledge of tipping points, the mechanisms that cause them, and their implications for management practices are evolving, but often in isolation within specific ecological realms. Here we summarize current knowledge of tipping points in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms, and provide a multi-realm perspective of the challenges and opportunities for applying this knowledge to ecosystem management. We brought together conservation practitioners and global experts in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial tipping points and identified seven challenges that environmental policymakers and managers contend with including: 1) predictability, 2) spatiotemporal scales, 3) interactions, 4) reversibility, 5) socio-ecological context, 6) complexity and heterogeneity, and 7) selecting appropriate action. We highlight opportunities for cross-scalar and cross-realm knowledge production and provide recommendations for enabling management of tipping points. Although knowledge of tipping points is imperfect, we stress the need to continue working towards incorporating tipping points perspectives in environmental management across all realms.
{"title":"A multi-realm perspective on applying potential tipping points to environmental decision-making","authors":"Meagan Harper, Trina Rytwinski, Irena F. Creed, Brian Helmuth, John P Smol, Joseph R Bennett, Dalal Hanna, Leonardo A. Saravia, Juan Rocha, Charlotte Carrier-Belleau, Aubrey Foulk, Ana Hernandez Martinez De La Riva, Courtney Robichaud, Lauren Sallan, Angeli Sahdra, Steven J Cooke","doi":"10.1139/er-2023-0042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2023-0042","url":null,"abstract":"Ecosystems experiencing pressures are at risk of rapidly transitioning (‘tipping’) from one state to another. Identifying and managing these so-called tipping points continues to be a challenge in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems, particularly when multiple potentially interacting drivers are present. Knowledge of tipping points, the mechanisms that cause them, and their implications for management practices are evolving, but often in isolation within specific ecological realms. Here we summarize current knowledge of tipping points in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms, and provide a multi-realm perspective of the challenges and opportunities for applying this knowledge to ecosystem management. We brought together conservation practitioners and global experts in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial tipping points and identified seven challenges that environmental policymakers and managers contend with including: 1) predictability, 2) spatiotemporal scales, 3) interactions, 4) reversibility, 5) socio-ecological context, 6) complexity and heterogeneity, and 7) selecting appropriate action. We highlight opportunities for cross-scalar and cross-realm knowledge production and provide recommendations for enabling management of tipping points. Although knowledge of tipping points is imperfect, we stress the need to continue working towards incorporating tipping points perspectives in environmental management across all realms.","PeriodicalId":49208,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136063869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}