Determining Reference Ecosystem Conditions for Disturbed Landscapes within the Context of Contemporary Resource Management Issues

摘要: O ne of the most important aspects forest ecosystem restoration is identification a reference that serves as guide for planning projects well benchmark (i.e., control) evaluating their success (Society Ecosystem Restoration [SER] 2002). Generally, conditions should reflect compositional and structural attributes have developed after natural disturbances, useful are often those represent range “natural” variability associated with ecosystem. As result, silvicultural strategies based on legacies disturbances becoming more common (e.g., Harrod et al. 1999, Palik One reason this trend resulting complexity can be striking (see Stephens Fule 2005), especially when compared managed ecosystems (Franklin 1997, Zasada 2003). This reflected in composition structure at both local diversity size classes stand) landscape scales types landscape). Thus, goal to develop help disturbed sites landscapes emulate landscape. Determining characteristics landscapes, however, difficult. In many instances, information related ecosystems, where disturbance regimes relatively intact, not available Asbjornsen 2005). particularly true highly or manipulated such areas by National Park Service (NPS) located across eastern United States. these areas, policy NPS maintain “natural [ecosystem] components processes condition,” human activities altered biological physical significantly, “restore them condition closest approximation situations which truly system no longer attainable” (National 2001). condition” considered spectrum conditions, including composition, structure, function occurring within defined area over specified period time before European settlement (Landres Allen However, has been increasingly focused maintaining cultural maintenance human-modified an acceptable management scenario regardless directive active restoration. Many lands States historical farmsteads, buildings, land-use histories maintained state. Examples include original homesteads, Civil War-era earthworks, Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps early successional habitats support variety plants animals thought found pre-European There also increasing interest among some restore anthropogenic (albeit settlement)