vi
Foreword
comparisons between these regions have provided a powerful tool for
examining the generality of responses of systems, to perturbation for
example, that share common physical evolutionary constraints.
Even though these disjunct biotic systems may have comparable responses to disruptions, the human-driven forces of change are not always
similar. Differing societal and economic frameworks can lead to quite
different land patterns of essentially identical biotic resources , providing
many different scenarios for comparison. However , the rate and extent of
change need be of a pace that is slow enough for us to learn from these
inadvertent experiments. Unfortunately, this is not proving to be the case
in all situations.
The assessment of the origins, status, function, and responses of highlatitude rainforests contained in this volume stems from the activities of a
research consortium of scientists from both North and South America
(AMIGO - America's Interhemisphere Geo-Biosphere Organization) ,
who are examining the responses of the components of the earth system
of the Americas to global change. Many of the analyses included in this
book were first presented at a scientific meeting held in Victoria , Canada.
The meeting was supported financially by the Canadian Royal Society's
Global Change Program ; the Canadian International Development
Agency; the Inter-America Institute; the United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organization; Environment Canada; and Forestry
Canada.
Harold A. Mooney