Approach
EASTERN: Potential increases in the frequency, intensity, and extent of large and severe disturbances may disrupt regeneration and result in loss of forest cover, productivity, or function in the long term. Prompt revegetation of sites following disturbance helps reduce soil loss and erosion, maintain water quality, and discourage invasive species in the newly exposed areas. These efforts can also provide an opportunity to promote natural regeneration or foster species that may be better adapted to future conditions.
WESTERN: Changes in the frequency, intensity, and extent of large and severe disturbances may disrupt regeneration and result in loss of desirable vegetation cover, productivity, or function in the long term. Prompt revegetation of ecologically appropriate and climatically adapted native species at sites following disturbance is often necessary to reestablish lost forest canopy, reestablish wildlife habitat, reduce soil loss and erosion, maintain hydrologic function, and discourage invasive species in the newly exposed areas. These efforts can also provide an opportunity to promote natural regeneration or foster species that may be better adapted to future climate conditions. Provenance test studies can provide powerful insights that help guide the selection of suitable reforestation seed sources.
Tactics
- Planting species expected to be adapted to future conditions and resistant to insect pests or present pathogens.
- Creating suitable physical conditions for natural regeneration through site preparation, for example herbicide application or mechanical removal to promote post-fire seedling establishment.
- Monitoring areas of natural regeneration on a more frequent basis, and prioritizing planting or seeding where natural regeneration is slow to succeed.
- Planting larger individuals (saplings versus seedlings, or containerized versus bare-root stock) to help increase survival in sites where dry conditions are expected.
- Planting native species and genotypes (e.g., nearby seed zones) expected to be adapted to future conditions (e.g. future climatic conditions or altered disturbance regimes) and resistant to insect pests or present pathogens.
- Planting tree seedlings in variable densities according to topographic and site conditions, with relatively lower densities in drier sites (e.g., south-facing slopes, ridgetops, and less productive soils) and higher densities in wetter sites.
- Incorporating existing natural regeneration in reforestation efforts, such as creating gaps around artificial regeneration where naturally-regenerating tree seedlings (conifers and hardwoods) enhance future structural heterogeneity and contribute to...
- Planting tree seedling densities in spatially-variable local arrangements, including the use of cluster plantings and uneven seedling spacing.
- Reforestation that use plating arrays with a combination of scattered individuals, clusters and open spaces (i.e., ICO) may promote landscape heterogeneity.
- Reducing competing vegetation around planted or naturally regenerated desired species by physical, prescribed fire, or chemical means.
Strategy
Strategy Text
Climate change is projected to continue to increase the potential for severe disturbance events, such as uncharacteristically large and severe wildfires, floods, severe and extended drought, and insect outbreaks. These disturbances have the ability to alter community composition and structure, potentially for many decades or longer, over large landscapes. Disturbances can also interact with other stressors. For example, extreme drought can cause tree damage and mortality, which increase the risk of insect outbreaks and potentially influence wildfire behavior. Even as trends continue to emerge, management will need to adjust appropriately to the changes in natural disturbance dynamics.
1. Swanston, C.W.; Janowiak, M.K.; Brandt, L.A.; Butler, P.R.; Handler, S.D.; Shannon, P.D.; Derby Lewis, A.; Hall, K.; Fahey, R.T.; Scott, L.; Kerber, A.; Miesbauer, J.W.; Darling, L.; 2016. Forest Adaptation Resources: climate change tools and approaches for land managers, 2nd ed. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 161 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-87-2