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D .L. Spittlehouse
enhanced need to regularly conduct them and to monitor other variables
as well.
Conclusions
The analyses presented in this paper show that it is possible to develop
responses to future unknown climates. They also provide information to
aid current forest management. It is unlikely that all potential problems
will be addressed. Surprises lie ahead, but partial preparation is better
than no preparation and a good monitoring program would help detect
when action is required. Although development of responses is possible,
this is no reason for society to ignore options to reduce the risk associated
with rapid climate changes. There will be significant costs to forest
management in responding to climate change. A mix of actions will be
required now and in the future. Immediate responses include deciding
what degree of change in the resource constitutes a problem , determining
possible solutions, and initiating monitoring programs to determine
when intervention is required. The examples presented here are only a
fragment of the assessments that can be done. I have concentrated on
the dominant tree species of a managed forest . Analyses are required
to assess other tree species, the nontimber resources of managed areas
(e.g ., understory, wildlife and water) and unmanaged areas . Current
forest management initiatives to maintain biodiversity, reduce fragmentation and preserve habitat, and provide wildlife corridors will also aid
managing for future climate change. Provenance trial where trees are
grown hundreds of kilometers from their source provide information on a
species ability to grow under a wide range of conditions.
Reductions in rainfall are a greater threat to the Douglas-fir forests in
British Columbia than project changes in air temperature. Different
ecotypes, planting stock, or even species may be required for the driest
sites. The increased stress at these sites is likely to increase vulnerability
to insects and disease. Management techniques developed for dry sites in
the southern interior of British Columbia may provide guidance as to
techniques to be used at these sites. Douglas-fir provenance trials should
be assessed for provenances that have the ability to perform well in a
wide range of climatic regimes. The moist, high productivity coastal
Douglas-fir sites are less susceptible to the changes in rainfall and temperature predicted by global climate models, though reductions in growth
can be expected. Increasing rainfall is likely to have the greatest benefit
to forestry on the drier sites, though benefits may be offset by the
increased cost of road and culvert maintenance in the wetter areas .
Acknowledgements. I thank a number of colleagues for comments of this
paper. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and
D .L. Spittlehouse
enhanced need to regularly conduct them and to monitor other variables
as well.
Conclusions
The analyses presented in this paper show that it is possible to develop
responses to future unknown climates. They also provide information to
aid current forest management. It is unlikely that all potential problems
will be addressed. Surprises lie ahead, but partial preparation is better
than no preparation and a good monitoring program would help detect
when action is required. Although development of responses is possible,
this is no reason for society to ignore options to reduce the risk associated
with rapid climate changes. There will be significant costs to forest
management in responding to climate change. A mix of actions will be
required now and in the future. Immediate responses include deciding
what degree of change in the resource constitutes a problem , determining
possible solutions, and initiating monitoring programs to determine
when intervention is required. The examples presented here are only a
fragment of the assessments that can be done. I have concentrated on
the dominant tree species of a managed forest . Analyses are required
to assess other tree species, the nontimber resources of managed areas
(e.g ., understory, wildlife and water) and unmanaged areas . Current
forest management initiatives to maintain biodiversity, reduce fragmentation and preserve habitat, and provide wildlife corridors will also aid
managing for future climate change. Provenance trial where trees are
grown hundreds of kilometers from their source provide information on a
species ability to grow under a wide range of conditions.
Reductions in rainfall are a greater threat to the Douglas-fir forests in
British Columbia than project changes in air temperature. Different
ecotypes, planting stock, or even species may be required for the driest
sites. The increased stress at these sites is likely to increase vulnerability
to insects and disease. Management techniques developed for dry sites in
the southern interior of British Columbia may provide guidance as to
techniques to be used at these sites. Douglas-fir provenance trials should
be assessed for provenances that have the ability to perform well in a
wide range of climatic regimes. The moist, high productivity coastal
Douglas-fir sites are less susceptible to the changes in rainfall and temperature predicted by global climate models, though reductions in growth
can be expected. Increasing rainfall is likely to have the greatest benefit
to forestry on the drier sites, though benefits may be offset by the
increased cost of road and culvert maintenance in the wetter areas .
Acknowledgements. I thank a number of colleagues for comments of this
paper. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author and