Applied Ecology of Tropical Forests

Abstract

Ecological studies in tropical production forests suggest that many forests could be successfully managed for timber, biodiversity, and carbon, as long as the targets for timber yield are set realistically low (which they rarely are at present). Plantations of mixed native species are another attempt to combine timber production with other values, although there is little data yet on their long-term success. Ecological restoration is a growing field that combines forestry skills with ecological knowledge. Tropical forest management must also respond to the twin needs for climate-change mitigation (by reducing greenhouse gas emissions or increasing sinks) and adaptation (by maximizing the ability of forest species and ecosystems to adapt to climate change). In most cases, however, the biggest issue in tropical forest management is still governance, rather than ecology.