30) put it, “our message is that the perspective provided by geohistorical data is
essential for the development of successful conservation strategies in the midst of a
constantly changing environment.”
Environmental geohistory is an instrument with a focus on the future. Therefore,
this chapter attempts to answer questions asked by managers by providing current
examples that contribute information about diversity baselines, thresholds, resilience, and restoration of ecological processes (Willis and Bhagwat 2010). As
Froyd and Willis (2008) point out, “the analysis of late Quaternary environmental
change to key environmental issues of biodiversity and conservation management
and examines areas which could be strengthened in the future including: (i) determination of baselines and natural ecosystem variability; (ii) understanding ecological thresholds and resilience; (iii) climate change conservation strategies;
(iv) biological invasions; and (v) conservation and culture” (Froyd and Willis 2008:
1723). Willis et al. (2010) commented, “the message that emerges is that such
paleo-records have much to offer not only regarding understanding the ecological
and evolutionary processes responsible for biodiversity but also in guiding the
management strategies necessary to ensure biodiversity conservation” (Willis et al.
2010: 584). Paleoecological records provide evidence of numerous climate changes
and human impacts. The key to the question lies in how these records are used to
benefit current and future conservation of biodiversity (Willis and Bhagwat 2010).
The main objective of this chapter is to contribute information and reflection on
diversity baselines, thresholds, resilience, and restoration of ecological processes,
based on three specific, structured examples in various settings with different levels
of human intervention: (1) Abies and Betula as examples of forest changes permit a
discussion of baseline and Range of Natural Variability at different stages of succession; (2) Alpine pastures at the tree line and agricultural mountain areas show the
importance of thresholds and resilience in the management of more humanized
spaces; (3) Peat bogs, the maximum expression of local environments, demonstrate
that a lack of resilience requires maximum attention by managers. Both unpublished
and previously published data will be presented to illustrate examples from the
Pyrenees in areas surrounded by Natural Protected Spaces, both ‘Aigüestortes i
Estany de Sant Maurici National Park’ and ‘Alt Pirineu Natural Park’ (Fig. 5.1).
5.2 Examples of Environmental Geohistory
in the Pyrenees
5.2.1 The Baseline and Range of Natural Variability
of Abies Alba Mill
In western Europe, Abies alba is distributed across the central and southern part of
the continent; further north, Picea abies is the dominant genus. On the Iberian
Peninsula, this species reaches its southwestern boundary in Europe, with its largest
114
A. Pèlachs et al.
essential for the development of successful conservation strategies in the midst of a
constantly changing environment.”
Environmental geohistory is an instrument with a focus on the future. Therefore,
this chapter attempts to answer questions asked by managers by providing current
examples that contribute information about diversity baselines, thresholds, resilience, and restoration of ecological processes (Willis and Bhagwat 2010). As
Froyd and Willis (2008) point out, “the analysis of late Quaternary environmental
change to key environmental issues of biodiversity and conservation management
and examines areas which could be strengthened in the future including: (i) determination of baselines and natural ecosystem variability; (ii) understanding ecological thresholds and resilience; (iii) climate change conservation strategies;
(iv) biological invasions; and (v) conservation and culture” (Froyd and Willis 2008:
1723). Willis et al. (2010) commented, “the message that emerges is that such
paleo-records have much to offer not only regarding understanding the ecological
and evolutionary processes responsible for biodiversity but also in guiding the
management strategies necessary to ensure biodiversity conservation” (Willis et al.
2010: 584). Paleoecological records provide evidence of numerous climate changes
and human impacts. The key to the question lies in how these records are used to
benefit current and future conservation of biodiversity (Willis and Bhagwat 2010).
The main objective of this chapter is to contribute information and reflection on
diversity baselines, thresholds, resilience, and restoration of ecological processes,
based on three specific, structured examples in various settings with different levels
of human intervention: (1) Abies and Betula as examples of forest changes permit a
discussion of baseline and Range of Natural Variability at different stages of succession; (2) Alpine pastures at the tree line and agricultural mountain areas show the
importance of thresholds and resilience in the management of more humanized
spaces; (3) Peat bogs, the maximum expression of local environments, demonstrate
that a lack of resilience requires maximum attention by managers. Both unpublished
and previously published data will be presented to illustrate examples from the
Pyrenees in areas surrounded by Natural Protected Spaces, both ‘Aigüestortes i
Estany de Sant Maurici National Park’ and ‘Alt Pirineu Natural Park’ (Fig. 5.1).
5.2 Examples of Environmental Geohistory
in the Pyrenees
5.2.1 The Baseline and Range of Natural Variability
of Abies Alba Mill
In western Europe, Abies alba is distributed across the central and southern part of
the continent; further north, Picea abies is the dominant genus. On the Iberian
Peninsula, this species reaches its southwestern boundary in Europe, with its largest
114
A. Pèlachs et al.