Forest-Related Ecosystem Services [chapter]

Sandra Luque, Louis Iverson
2016 Routledge Handbook of Ecosystem Services  
lntroduction Forests arc a crucial element not only of land�capt.-s but al so of human living conditions. Cov ering nearly a third of the earth's land surtace (see Box 30.l), they stabilize surface soil, prevent erosion and pl a y an essential role in water resource management at the wa tershed and local levels. They regulate climate and improve air quality. At the same time th ey are an impor tant resource for the regional economy (wood production, recreation and tourism) and are an important
more » ... ultural and social heritage of the local and regional human activities. They provide habitats for a multitude of animal and plant species and arc essential for the biological diversity in f orest ecosystems over large areas. Likewise, for centuries, forest� have served humans as shelter or a place for natural safety f o r communities during times of famine or other events that impact agricultural and food produc tion: forests provide fruits, leaves, gum, nuts, timber and wood for fuel. Thus, throughout history, forests supported peoples' livelihoods, especially when crops failed. Today, the world's fon.-st� arc in a state of flux due to land-use and climate change, defon.-st ation, afforestati on, wildfires, insects and pathogen outbreaks. In the face of both anthropogenic and natural fo rces there is an increasing need to assess the value of our forests. The incorporation of the ecosystem service (ES) concept into the framework of forest management stems from a need to create a more holistic perce ption of forests, recognizing not only their economic value, but also their cultural and ecological values, including their regulation capability. While ti mber production otten dominated the way in which forests were managed in the 20th century, new challcngt. >s and increasing pressures in the 21st century have stimulated a more balanced approach, involving the deliv ery of multiple good'> an d services. Contempo ra ry sustainablt· f orest management seeks to meet productivity targets while still managing for biodiversit y conservation and other ES. Yet integrative forest management practices at the land scape level are complex and require the understanding of patterns at diffi•rent scales as well as their interrelationships through processes. This chapter set'i out the importance of an integrati ve land�cape perspective for managing forests, one which focuses on mosaics of patches and their dynamics in order to integrate ecol og ical values (e.g., the maintenance of ecosystem health and biodiversity conservation) with ernnomic or cultural ones (t'.g., timber and recreation).
doi:10.4324/9781315775302-33 fatcat:tiaegg2b55d2jfqd5c6xool44q