A Critique of Silviculture
Managing for Complexity
208 pages
|
6 x 9
The discipline of silviculture is at a crossroads. Silviculturists are under increasing pressure to develop practices that sustain the full function and dynamics of forested ecosystems and maintain ecosystem diversity and resilience while still providing needed wood products. A Critique of Silviculture offers a penetrating look at the current state of the field and provides suggestions for its future development.
The book includes an overview of the historical developments of silvicultural techniques and describes how these developments are best understood in their contemporary philosophical, social, and ecological contexts. It also explains how the traditional strengths of silviculture are becoming limitations as society demands a varied set of benefits from forests and as we learn more about the importance of diversity on ecosystem functions and processes.
The authors go on to explain how other fields, specifically ecology and complexity science, have developed in attempts to understand the diversity of nature and the variability and heterogeneity of ecosystems. The authors suggest that ideas and approaches from these fields could offer a road map to a new philosophical and practical approach that endorses managing forests as complex adaptive systems.
A Critique of Silviculture bridges a gap between silviculture and ecology that has long hindered the adoption of new ideas. It breaks the mold of disciplinary thinking by directly linking new ideas and findings in ecology and complexity science to the field of silviculture. This is a critically important book that is essential reading for anyone involved with forest ecology, forestry, silviculture, or the management of forested ecosystems.
"In this concise work Puettmann, Coates, and Messier address the issue of complexity in forest management by walking readers through a historical accounting of silviculture as a discipline."
L. M. Nagel, Choice"...the authors conduct an excellent review of ecological concepts and the value of those concepts in application to management."
James M. Guldin, Natural Areas JournalPreface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Historical Context of Silviculture
Major External Factors Influencing Development of Forestry and Silviculture
The Development of Silviculture
Fundamental Concepts and Practices That Influence Silviculture
Development of Silvicultural Systems
Adoption versus Adaptation
Integration of Scientific Advancement into Silvicultural Teachings
Conclusion
Chapter 2. Silviculture: Challenging Traditions
A Dominant Focus on Trees
Management of STands as Uniform Entities
Applying an Agricultural Approach to Silvicultural Research
The Scale-Independent View of Forestry Practices
Focus on Predictability
Conclusion
Chapter 3. Ecology: Acknowledging Complexity
Origin of Ecology
Review of Past and Current Concepts in Ecology
Ecological Complexity and Complexity Science
Conclusion
Chapter 4. Silviculture and Ecology: Contrasting Views
What Do Silviculturists and Ecologists See When They Walk into a Forests?
Who Do Silviculturists and Ecologists Talk to?
What Do Silviculturists and Ecologists Read?
Concepts and Theories Can Provide a Linkage between Silviculture and Ecology
The Evolution of Contemporary Large-Scale Silvicultural Experiments
Conclusion
Chapter 5. Managing Forsts as Complex Adaptive Systems
The Science of Complexity
Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems
Silviculture and Complexity
Managing Complexity
Steps toward Managing Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems: Where to Start?
Conclusion
Gloxxary
References
Index
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Historical Context of Silviculture
Major External Factors Influencing Development of Forestry and Silviculture
The Development of Silviculture
Fundamental Concepts and Practices That Influence Silviculture
Development of Silvicultural Systems
Adoption versus Adaptation
Integration of Scientific Advancement into Silvicultural Teachings
Conclusion
Chapter 2. Silviculture: Challenging Traditions
A Dominant Focus on Trees
Management of STands as Uniform Entities
Applying an Agricultural Approach to Silvicultural Research
The Scale-Independent View of Forestry Practices
Focus on Predictability
Conclusion
Chapter 3. Ecology: Acknowledging Complexity
Origin of Ecology
Review of Past and Current Concepts in Ecology
Ecological Complexity and Complexity Science
Conclusion
Chapter 4. Silviculture and Ecology: Contrasting Views
What Do Silviculturists and Ecologists See When They Walk into a Forests?
Who Do Silviculturists and Ecologists Talk to?
What Do Silviculturists and Ecologists Read?
Concepts and Theories Can Provide a Linkage between Silviculture and Ecology
The Evolution of Contemporary Large-Scale Silvicultural Experiments
Conclusion
Chapter 5. Managing Forsts as Complex Adaptive Systems
The Science of Complexity
Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems
Silviculture and Complexity
Managing Complexity
Steps toward Managing Forests as Complex Adaptive Systems: Where to Start?
Conclusion
Gloxxary
References
Index
About the Authors
Google preview here
You may purchase this title at fine bookstores across the United States. Outside the USA, see our international sales information.
