Unleash the natural power and adaptability of forests with this cutting-edge guideFor generations, silvicultural systems have focused largely on models whose primary objective is the production of timber, leading to drastically simplified forests with reduced ecological richness, diversity, and complexity. Ecological silviculture, by contrast, focuses on producing and maintaining forests with "all their parts", that is, with the diversity and flexibility to respond and adapt to global changes. Ecological silviculture seeks to emulate natural development models and sustain healthy forests serving multiple values and goals.Ecological Silvicultural Systems provides a comprehensive introduction to these approaches and their benefits tailored to diverse types of forests, designed for forest management professionals. It provides a series of exemplary models for ecological silviculture and surveys the resulting forest ecosystems. The result is a text that meets the needs of professionals in forestry and natural resource management with an eye towards sustaining healthy forest ecosystems, adapting them to climate change, protecting them from invasive species, and responding to changing market forces.Ecological Silvicultural Systems readers will also find:* Detailed treatment of forest ecosystems in North America, Europe, South America, and Australia* A broad field of contributors with decades of combined expertise on multiple continents* Discussion of pine woodlands; temperate hardwood forests, boreal forests, temperate rainforests, and moreEcological Silvicultural Systems is a useful reference for professional foresters, wildlife habitat managers, restoration ecologists, and undergraduate and graduate students in any of these fields.

List of Contributors xvPreface xviiiAcknowledgments xix1 The Context of Ecological Silviculture 1Brian J. Palik and Anthony W. D'Amato1.1 What Is Ecological Silviculture? 11.2 How Does Ecological Silviculture Differ from Classical Commodity- Focused Silviculture? 21.3 Why Is Ecological Silviculture Needed? 21.4 What Are the Foundational Concepts of Ecological Silviculture? 31.5 What to Expect from the Chapters that Follow? 8References 82 Ecological Silviculture for Great Lakes Red Pine Ecosystems 11Brian J. Palik and Anthony W. D'Amato2.1 Introduction 112.2 Characteristics of Red Pine Ecosystems 112.2.1 Composition and Structure 112.2.2 Natural Disturbance Regime 132.2.3 Natural Development Model 142.2.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 142.2.3.2 Preforest Stage 142.2.3.3 Young Forest Stage 152.2.3.4 Mature Forest Stage 152.2.3.5 Old Forest Stage 152.2.3.6 The Cycle of Disturbance and Development 162.3 An Ecological Silvicultural System for Red Pine Ecosystems 162.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 172.3.2 Preforest Stage 172.3.3 Young Forest Stage (Early) 192.3.4 Young Forest Stage (Later) 192.3.5 Mature Forest Stage 202.3.6 Old Forest Stage 212.3.7 Natural- Origin Stands Versus Plantations 212.4 Climate Change Considerations 222.5 Summary 22References 233 Ecological Silviculture for Northern Hardwood Ecosystems of Northeastern U.S. 25Anthony W. D'Amato3.1 Introduction 253.2 Characteristics of Northern Hardwood Ecosystems 263.2.1 Composition and Structure 263.2.2 Historical Natural Disturbance Regime 283.2.3 Natural Development Model 283.2.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 293.2.3.2 Preforest Stage 293.2.3.3 Young Forest Stage 303.2.3.4 Mature Forest Stage 303.2.3.5 Old Forest Stage 303.2.4 The Cycle of Disturbance and Development 303.3 An Ecological Silvicultural System for Northern Hardwood Ecosystems 313.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 313.3.2 Preforest Stage 313.3.3 Young Forest Stage (Early) 343.3.4 Young Forest Stage (Later) 343.3.5 Mature Forest Stage 343.3.6 Old Forest Stage 363.4 Climate Change Considerations 363.5 Summary 37References 384 Ecological Silviculture in Douglas- fir-Western Hemlock Ecosystems 40Abraham Wheeler, Jerry F. Franklin, and Stephanie J. Wessell4.1 Introduction 404.2 Characteristics of Douglas- fir-Western Hemlock Ecosystems 414.2.1 Tree Species Composition 414.2.2 Natural Disturbance Regime and Developmental Model 414.2.2.1 Natural Disturbance 414.2.2.2 Preforest Stage 414.2.2.3 Young Forest Stage 424.2.2.4 Mature Forest Stage 424.2.2.5 Old Forest Stage 424.3 Essential Elements of an Ecological Silvicultural System for Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Ecosystems 424.3.1 Landscape Context 434.3.2 Special Features 434.3.3 Spatial Heterogeneity 434.3.4 Structural Retention 434.3.5 Species Diversity 434.3.6 Limited Use of Chemicals 444.3.7 Regeneration Approaches 444.3.8 Silvicultural System 444.3.8.1 Emulating Natural Disturbance 444.3.8.2 Long Recovery Periods 464.3.8.3 Large, Open Harvest Areas 464.3.8.4 Ecological Thinning 464.3.9 Ecological Silvicultural Tradeoffs 474.4 Real- World Application of an Ecological Silvicultural System for the DF-WH Ecosystem 484.5 Climate Change Considerations 484.6 Summary 51References 515 Ecological Silviculture for Longleaf Pine Woodlands in the Southeastern U.S. 53Steven B. Jack, Benjamin O. Knapp, and R. Kevin McIntyre5.1 Introduction 535.2 Characteristics of Longleaf Pine Ecosystems 545.2.1 Natural History 545.2.2 Natural Disturbance 545.2.3 Composition and Structure 555.3 Development Model 575.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 585.3.2 Preforest Stage 585.3.3 Young Forest Stage 585.3.4 Mature Forest Stage 585.3.5 Old Forest Stage 595.4 Prevailing Silvicultural Systems 595.5 An Ecological Silvicultural System for Longleaf Pine 595.5.1 Ecological Silviculture to Maintain Mature Forests 615.5.2 Ecological Silviculture for Restoration 615.6 Climate Change Considerations 635.7 Summary 64References 646 Ecological Silviculture for Southeastern US Pine-Oak Forests 67Justin L. Hart, J. Davis Goode, and Daniel C. Dey6.1 Introduction 676.2 Characteristics of Pine- Oak Ecosystems 676.2.1 Silvics of Common Species 686.2.2 Disturbance Ecology 706.3 Development Model 716.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 716.3.2 Preforest Stage 716.3.3 Young Forest Stage 726.3.4 Mature Forest Stage 726.3.5 Old Forest Stage 736.4 Ecological Silvicultural Systems for Pine- Oak Ecosystems 736.4.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 756.4.2 Preforest Stage 766.4.3 Young Forest Stage 776.4.4 Mature Forest Stage 776.4.5 Old Forest Stage 786.5 Climate Change Considerations 786.6 Summary 78References 797 Ecological Silviculture for Lowland Wet Conifer Forest Lake States 81Marcella A. Windmuller-Campione, Laura F. Reuling, Robert A. Slesak, and Randy K. Kolka7.1 Overview 817.2 Glacial History 827.3 Plant Community Composition 837.4 Historical Natural Disturbance Regime 847.4.1 Stand- Replacing Disturbance 847.4.2 Gap Dynamics 867.5 Silvics of Black Spruce and Eastern Larch 867.6 Current/Conventional Silvicultural Approaches 887.7 Natural Development Model for Lowland Conifer Ecosystems 897.7.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 897.7.2 Preforest Stage 897.7.3 Young Forest Stage 897.7.4 Mature Forest Stage and Old Forest Stage 897.8 Ecological Silviculture System 907.8.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 917.8.2 Preforest Stage and Young Forest Stages 917.8.3 Mature Forest Stage and Old Forest Stages 917.9 Climate Changes Impact on Lowland Conifer Ecosystems 927.10 Summary 92References 948 Ecological Silviculture for Southern Appalachian Hardwood Forests 98Jodi A. Forrester, Tara L. Keyser, and David K. Schnake8.1 The Southern Appalachian Mixed- Oak Forests 988.2 Contemporary Forests of the Southern Appalachians 998.3 Structure, Composition, and Development of the Southern Appalachian Mixed-Oak Ecosystem 1018.3.1 Structure and Composition 1018.3.2 Natural Development Model 1038.4 Regenerating Upland Oak Forests in the Southern Appalachians 1048.5 An Ecologically Based Silvicultural System for Mixed- Oak Ecosystems 1058.5.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 1058.5.2 Preforest Stage 1068.5.3 Young Forest Stage 1078.5.4 Mature Forest Stage 1078.5.5 Old Forest Stage 1088.6 Climate Change Considerations 1088.7 Summary 108References 1099 Ecological Silviculture for Yellow Birch-Conifer Mixedwoods in Eastern Canada 112Patricia Raymond and Daniel Dumais9.1 Introduction 1129.2 Characteristics of Yellow Birch-Conifer Mixedwoods 1129.2.1 Species Composition 1129.2.2 Structure 1159.2.3 Historical Natural Disturbance Regime 1159.2.4 Natural Development Model 1169.2.4.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 1199.2.4.2 Young Forest Stage 1209.2.4.3 Mature Forest Stage 1209.2.4.4 Old Forest Stage 1209.3 An Ecological Silvicultural System for Yellow Birch-Conifer Mixedwoods 1209.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 1209.3.2 Young Forest Stage 1219.3.3 Mature Forest Stage 1239.3.4 Old Forest Stage 1239.4 Climate Change Considerations 1249.5 Summary 124Acknowledgments 125References 12510 Ecological Silviculture of Black Spruce in Canadian Boreal Forests 128Miguel Montoro Girona, Martin Alcala Pajares, and Maxence Martin10.1 Introduction 12810.2 Characteristics of Black Spruce Forests 12810.2.1 Distribution and Composition 12810.2.2 Climate, Soil, and Topography 13010.3 Black Spruce Forest Types 13010.3.1 Black Spruce-Feathermoss Forests 13010.3.2 Black Spruce-Lichen Forests 13010.3.3 Black Spruce-Dwarf Shrub Forests 13110.4 Developmental Model for Black Spruce Forests 13110.5 Emulating Natural Dynamics of Black Spurce Forests with Sivliculture 13510.5.1 Clear-cutting as Tool to Emulate High-severity Wildfire 13510.5.2 Thinning to Restore Complex Structures 13510.5.3 Diameter-Limit Cuts to Emulate Secondary Disturbances of High Severity 13610.5.4 Shelterwoods to Emulate Moderate- Severity Secondary Disturbances 13610.5.5 Selection Harvests to Emulate Low- Severity Disturbances and Background Mortality 13710.6 Summary 138References 13811 Ecological Silviculture for Acadian Forests 141Robert S. Seymour11.1 Introduction and Context 14111.2 Ecological Characteristics 14111.3 Models of Disturbance and Stand Development 14411.4 Restoration Challenges and Possible Pathways 14811.5 Regeneration Treatments at the Mature Forest Stage 14911.6 Silvicultural Systems Based on Natural Disturbance Parameters - The Acadian Femelschlag 14911.6.1 Tending Gap Regeneration - The Young Forest Stage 15011.6.2 Locating Skid Trails, Initial Gaps, and Reserve Trees 15111.6.3 Results After 27 Years 15111.7 Climate Considerations 15311.8 Summary 153References 15312 Ecological Silviculture for Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer Forests 156Robert A. York12.1 Introduction 15612.2 Characteristics of Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer Forests 15712.2.1 The Disturbance Regime, Composition, and Structure 15712.2.2 Current Silviculture in the Sierra Nevada MCF 15812.2.2.1 Planted Forests 15812.2.2.2 Partial Harvests 15912.2.2.3 Fuel Treatments 15912.3 Natural Development Model 16012.3.1 Disturbance, Legacy Creation, and Preforest 16012.3.2 Young Forest 16112.3.3 Mature and Old Forest 16212.4 An Ecological Silviculture System for Mixed Conifer Forests 16312.5 Climate Change Considerations 16412.6 Using the Natural Development Model to Alter Existing Systems 16512.6.1 Planted Forests 16512.6.2 Partial Harvests 16612.6.3 Fuel Treatments 166References 16613 Ecological Silviculture for Aspen Mixedwoods in Western Canada 169S. Ellen Macdonald, Philip G. Comeau, Charles A. Nock, and Brad D. Pinno13.1 Introduction 16913.2 Natural Disturbance and Successional Dynamics 17013.3 Current Silvicultural Approaches 17313.4 Ecological Silvicultural Systems for Boreal Mixedwoods in Western Canada 17313.4.1 Harvesting Options for Boreal Mixedwoods Under Ecological Silvicultural Systems 17413.4.1.1 Retention Harvesting 17413.4.1.2 Understory Protection Harvesting 17413.4.2 Regeneration Options for Boreal Mixedwoods Under Ecological Silvicultural Systems 17713.4.3 Tending Options for Boreal Mixedwoods Under Ecological Silvicultural Systems 17813.5 Policy Challenges 17813.6 Climate Change Considerations for Boreal Mixedwood Management 17913.7 How Does This Bring Management Closer to Nature? 179References 18014 Ecological Silviculture for Interior Ponderosa Pine and Dry Mixed-Conifer Ecosystems 184Andrew J. Larson and Derek J. Churchill14.1 Introduction 18414.2 Characteristics of Ponderosa Pine and Dry- Mixed Conifer Ecosystems 18514.2.1 Composition and Structure 18514.2.2 Disturbance Regime 18614.2.3 Developmental Model 18914.3 An Ecological Silvicultural System for Ponderosa Pine and Dry- Mixed Conifer Ecosystems 18914.3.1 Incorporating Prescribed Fire in Silvicultural Treatments 19214.4 Example Applications of Ecological Silviculture in Contrasting Initial Conditions 19314.4.1 High Density, Even-Aged 19314.4.2 High Density, Multi-Cohort with Abundant Fire- and Drought-Tolerant Species 19414.4.3 High-Density Lacking Healthy Trees of the Desired Species 19414.4.4 Recent Moderate- or High-Severity Wildfire 19514.4.5 Low Density, Multi-Cohort 19614.5 Climate Change Considerations 19614.6 Summary 197References 19715 Ecological Silviculture for North American Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforests 199Justin S. Crotteau, William J. Beese, John-Pascal Berrill, Robert L. Deal, Constance A. Harrington, and Kellen N. Nelson15.1 Introduction 19915.2 Characteristics of Temperate Rainforest Ecosystems 20015.2.1 Tree Composition, Size, and Age Structure 20015.2.2 Natural Disturbances and Stand Development 20115.2.3 Developmental Model 20115.2.3.1 Preforest Stage 20215.2.3.2 Young Forest Stage 20215.2.3.3 Mature Forest Stage 20215.2.3.4 Old Forest Stage 20215.3 An Ecological Silvicultural System for the Temperate Rainforest 20215.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 20415.3.2 Preforest Stage 20415.3.3 Young Forest Stage (Early) 20715.3.4 Young Forest Stage (Late) 20715.3.5 Mature Forest Stage 20815.3.6 Old Forest Stage 20915.4 Climate Change Considerations 20915.5 Summary 210Acknowledgments 211References 21116 Ecological Silviculture for Oak Ecosystems of the Central Hardwoods Region, USA 213Miranda T. Curzon and John M. Kabrick16.1 Introduction 21316.2 Characteristics of Central Hardwood Forests and Woodlands 21416.2.1 Composition and Structure 21416.2.2 Natural Disturbance 21516.3 Natural Developmental Model 21616.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 21716.3.2 Preforest Stage 21816.3.3 Young Stage 21816.3.4 Mature Stage 21816.3.5 Old Stage 21816.4 Ecological Silvicultural Systems for Central Hardwoods Ecosystems 21916.4.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 21916.4.2 Preforest Stage 22216.4.3 Young Stage 22216.4.4 Mature Stage 22316.4.5 Old Stage 22416.5 Climate Change Considerations 22416.6 Summary 225Acknowledgments 226References 22617 Ecological Silviculture for Fennoscandian Scots Pine Ecosystems 229Timo Kuuluvainen and Timo Pukkala17.1 Introduction 22917.2 Structure, Dynamics, and Composition of Scots Pine Ecosystems 23117.3 Dead Standing Kelo Trees as a Key Component of Fennoscandian Pine Forests 23217.4 Evolution of Ecological Silviculture of Scots Pine Forests 23317.5 Toward Ecological Silviculture for Scots Pine in Fennoscandia 23417.6 Reconciling Economic Profitability with Biodiversity: A Case Study Using Any-Aged Forestry 23517.7 Ecological Silviculture in Fennoscandia: Policy Context and Future Prospects 23917.8 Conclusions 240References 24118 Silvicultural Systems in the Mountain Ash Forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria, South-eastern Australia 244David B. Lindenmayer18.1 Introduction 24418.2 Ecosystem Characteristics 24518.3 Prevailing Silvicultural Systems in Mountain Ash Forests 24618.3.1 Clear-Cutting 24618.3.2 Variable Retention Harvesting Systems 24618.4 Natural Development Model and Silviculture 25018.5 The Challenges for Mountain Ash Silviculture: Climate Change and Other Drivers 25118.6 A New Silvicultural Model for Mountain Ash Forests 253Acknowledgments 254References 25419 Ecological Silviculture for European Beech-Dominated Forest Ecosystems 257Thomas A. Nagel, Miroslav Svoboda, Lucie Vítková, and Dusan Ro?enbergar19.1 Introduction 25719.2 Characteristics and Natural Dynamics of European Beech-Dominated Ecosystems 25719.2.1 Composition 25719.2.2 Disturbance Regime 25919.2.3 Developmental Model 25919.2.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 25919.2.3.2 Preforest Stage 25919.2.3.3 Young Forest Stage 26019.2.3.4 Mature Forest Stage 26119.2.3.5 Old Forest Stage 26119.3 Conventional Silvicultural Approach 26219.4 Ecological Silviculture for European Beech- Dominated Ecosystems 26319.4.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 26319.4.2 Preforest Stage 26619.4.3 Young Forest Stage 26619.4.4 Mature Forest Stage 26719.4.5 Old Forest Stage 26719.5 Climate Change Considerations 26819.6 Summary 268References 26920 Ecological Silviculture for Chilean Temperate Rainforests 271Pablo J. Donoso and Daniel P. Soto20.1 Introduction 27120.2 Characteristics of the Evergreen Forest Type (EFT) 27220.2.1 Composition, Structure, and Growth 27220.2.2 Forest Disturbance and Dynamics 27320.2.3 Secondary Forest Development Following Human Disturbances 27520.3 Natural Developmental Model 27620.3.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 27620.3.2 Young Forest Stage 27620.3.3 Mature Forest Stage 27620.3.4 Old Forest Stage 27820.4 An Ecological Silvicultural System for the Chilean Hardwood- Dominated Evergreen Forest Type 27920.4.1 Disturbance and Legacy Creation 27920.4.2 Young Forest Stage 27920.4.3 Mature Forest Stage 28020.4.4 Old Forest Stage 28020.5 Summary: Ecological Silviculture for Chilean Temperate Forests 281Acknowledgments 282References 28221 The Place of Ecological Silviculture, Now and in the Future 286Anthony W. D'Amato and Brian J. Palik21.1 Introduction 28621.2 A Diversity of Approaches for a Diversity of Forests 28621.2.1 Commonalities Among Ecological Silvicultural Approaches 28721.2.2 Differences Among Ecological Silvicultural Approaches 28921.3 Conclusions 290References 291Index 292