Guide changes in species composition at early stages of development to meet expected future conditions

Disturbances often initiate regeneration which can be an opportunity to facilitate adaptation through ecosystem reorganization. Such guided changes reduce the disequilibrium between species composition and climatic conditions. When prominent species within an ecosystem are projected to decline as climate changes, management actions are needed that adjust species composition following disturbance to better align with the range of expected future conditions. These actions may result in enhanced carbon sequestration compared to relying on unaided successional processes.

Ecosystems may face significant impacts as a result of climate-related alterations in disturbances, including fire, invasive species, and severe weather events. Although disturbances are primary drivers of many ecosystems, changes in disturbance frequency, severity, extent, or duration may have important implications for the carbon balance of many forest ecosystems. Although many disturbances are not possible to predict, land managers can increase the preparedness of ecosystems for large and severe disturbance and prioritize rapid response to mitigate impacts on carbon. Adequate planning in advance of disturbance may facilitate earlier or more flexible response and prevent maladaptive responses that reduce or delay carbon recovery rates. This strategy involves consideration of various approaches that enhance the recovery of ecosystems, augmenting the ability of plant communities to initiate carbon sequestration quickly following disturbance.