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Conserving large intact forest landscapes (IFLs) is one forest management strategy to mitigate industrial impacts on the environment. Measuring the IFL inventory at national scales has also been proposed as a means of assessing the conservation status at global scales. This paper explores the relationship between fire regimes and the size of intact forest landscapes required to meet specific conservation targets. In this paper, we demonstrate that variation in fire regimes results in changes in the minimum size of IFL required to meet habitat targets. In addition, minimum IFL size is also dependent on the nature of the habitat targets. Larger IFLs are required to improve likelihood of providing sufficient older habitat. There is significant risk of not meeting older forest age-class targets at higher annual area burned (AAB) rates, especially under climate change. In general, there is more risk of not meeting habitat targets associated with smaller IFLs, higher annual area burned (both due to spatial differences and between historical and projected burn rates under climate change), and for provision of older forests. We used habitat age-related targets as outlined in the recovery strategy for woodland caribou as an example to demonstrate the usefulness of this type of simulation experiment and risk curves to identify appropriate IFL size along a gradient of natural disturbance intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Loggings in biodiversity hot-spots are perceived as very serious threat to forest species and habitats of high conservation interest. In this paper we scrutinize the spatial impacts of recent loggings in the Polish part of the renowned Białowieża Forest being the last remaining area of lowland temperate forest with a primeval character in Europe with the status of World Heritage and Natura 2000 site. The loggings have been applied in order to cope with the outbreak of the spruce bark beetle Ips typographus. We used satellite images to perform cover change detection analysis that delineated areas being logged in Białowieża Forest between July 2015 and June 2018. Next, we assessed the extent of forest loss in areas with different management regimes as well as landscape-scale impacts. The total area of detected clear-cuts amounted to at least 675 ha, including 229 ha of old-growth stands. Assuming a buffer of 100 m from the edge of cleared forest patches, the cumulative direct and indirect impact of recent logging activities was estimated to amount to at least 4073 ha of affected forest. Logging activities resulted in a 26% increase in fragmentation in the entire Natura 2000 area. We argue that the ecological impact of logging extends beyond the logged areas by modifying the landscape structure and affecting ecosystem functioning on a landscape scale. As such, the recent salvage loggings in the Białowieża Forest clearly damaged the conservation value of this precious area, not in the least by increasing its fragmentation. To avoid further degradation, we strongly argue for allowing natural tree regeneration on clear cuts and also for the extension of Białowieża National Park to cover the entire forested area. Highlights • The renowned Białowieża Forest has recently been partially salvage-logged in response to a spruce bark beetle outbreak • Using satellite images we quantified the total logged area to be at least 675 ha including 229 ha of old-growth forests • Assuming a buffer of 100 m we argue the cumulative impact of logging to amount to at least 4073 ha of affected forest • This has negative consequences for biodiversity but also affects ecosystem functioning by a 26% increase in fragmentation • To prevent further degradation, natural processes should shape the entire Białowieża Forest by enlarging the national park [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytic lichens are an important component of forest biodiversity. Many of them are threatened and conservation planning therefore requires comprehensive information about their distribution over space and time. However, besides topo-climatic predictors, the spatial pattern of epiphytic lichens is also closely related to the tree characteristics on which they grow. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that habitat specialist lichens restricted to specific habitat types and common species with a wide range of ecological preferences may respond differently to the topo-climatic and forest-structure predictors. We applied the generalized linear model (GLM) and maximum entropy (Maxent) for 20 epiphytic lichen species in Switzerland at different spatial scales (1 km and 100 m). To evaluate the influence of forest structure on the epiphytic lichen distribution, models with three sets of predictors (topo-climatic, forest-structure and combined predictor sets) were fitted for each species. Canopy height of forest stands and forest type were tested as a proxy of forest structure. Our results showed that both the techniques applied predicted well the occurrences of habitat specialists but the models of common lichens were overall less accurate. Forest-structure predictors significantly improved the models of rare and threatened species with specific microhabitat requirements, i.e. mainly forest lichens ( Arthonia byssacea , Bactrospora dryina , Calicium viride , Gyalecta truncigena and Vulpicida pinastri ), but they did not contribute considerably to the models of common species that grow equally well on the bark of different trees within or outside of forests (e.g. Caloplaca cerina , Phaeophyscia orbicularis , Physcia stellaris and Xanthoria parietina ). We recommend using high-resolution forest-structure data for robust and reliable predictions of the distribution patterns of threatened epiphytic lichens, most of which are habitat specialists. The inclusion of these data will allow a hypothesis-driven sampling strategy, and will thus increase the effectiveness of the field sampling needed for searching large regions thoroughly to discover new sites where rare and threatened species occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deforestation and degradation are threatening forests and woodlands globally. The deciduous miombo woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa are no exception, yet little is known about the flora and fauna they contain and the implications of their loss. Butterflies are recognised as indicators of environmental change; however the responses of butterflies in miombo woodlands have received little attention. This paper describes butterfly assemblages and their response to woodland utilisation in an understudied area of miombo woodland in south-west Tanzania. This is an area representative of miombo woodlands throughout sub-Saharan Africa, where woodland is utilised by local communities for a range of products, and is being rapidly converted to agriculture. Baited canopy traps and sweep nets were used to sample frugivorous and nectarivorous butterfly communities at different vertical stratifications in nine different study sites. 104 species were recorded, of which 16 are miombo specialists that have been recorded in Tanzania to the west of the country only. Indicator species were identified for three different levels of utilisation, with species from the sub-family Satyrinae indicating moderate utilisation. Generalised linear mixed effects models showed that butterfly species richness, diversity and abundance all decreased in response to increasing agriculture and anthropogenic utilisation. The loss of miombo woodlands is likely to result in declines in butterfly diversity. However, there was evidence of an intermediate disturbance effect for butterfly species richness, diversity and abundance with one utilisation variable, suggesting that a miombo woodland management plan that allows moderate sustainable utilisation in a heterogeneous landscape of mature miombo woodland and agriculture will simultaneously maintain butterfly communities and enable agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation of non-timber forest products has been encouraged in order to reconcile economic uses, biodiversity conservation and the provision of ecosystem services. In this paper we investigate how increments on the açaí palm density (Euterpe oleracea) via forest management change tree assemblages across 47 plots in the Amazon estuarine forest (Brazil). Assemblage attributes were confronted to açai clump density, soil fertility, canopy openness and elevation. Both tree species density and richness were negatively affected by acai, but species richness was also affected by tree abundance. Species-accumulation curves also indicated higher alpha and beta diversity across low-intensity forest patches with high-intensity patches lacking half of the tree species. A small set of species dominated forest patches, but açaí density did not correlate with the abundance of valuable species. Explanatory variables, including açai density, explained a small fraction of the variation on the functional profile of tree assemblages, but functional richness was reduced by a half across forest stands exceeding 600 açaí clumps per ha. Our results suggest that açaí intensification alters the structure of woody plant assemblages in estuarine forest. Tree abundance and species richness consistently declines as açaí clump density increases, with some forest stands being dominated by açaí and almost lacking any tree species. Accordingly, landscapes dominated by high-intensity forest stands are largely impoverished in terms of understory, canopy and emergent tree species. These findings question the current legal regulations and thresholds adopted for açai management, while alert for potential disasters caused by poorly-regulated extractions of NTFPs. • Açaí intensification for enhancing fruit yield represents a complete reorganization of the estuarine forest. • Landscapes dominated by high-intensity forest stands are largely impoverished in terms of understory, canopy and emergent tree species. • Current legal regulations on açaí intensification fail to protect forest integrity and biodiversity. • Açaí represents a key economic opportunity for locals but a real threat for the estuarine forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have quantified the impact of the production and consumption of commodities, in particular agricultural commodities, on biodiversity loss. Certification schemes, meanwhile, have been instituted as a means to limit biodiversity loss caused by the production of some of these commodities. This paper clarifies how biodiversity loss can be limited by certification schemes in oil palm and fastwood plantation concessions by applying three methodological approaches to biodiversity assessment. We consider concessions in West Kalimantan province, Indonesia, as an example. We found that certified plantation concessions that are committed to deforestation-free production are limited in their ability to prevent further biodiversity loss, due to the past conversion of forest habitats to plantations. Concession holders can improve forest habitats through corridor development and other measures, which would mitigate, but not prevent, further biodiversity loss. We suggest a broadening of focus from protecting natural habitats within concession areas, to the wider landscape around concessions in collaboration with neighbors. This will require institutional arrangements to enable access to finance and technical expertise. • Approaches to the global biodiversity assessment are used to analyze certification schemes. • Certified plantation concessions are limited in ability to prevent further biodiversity loss. • A broadening of focus to the wider landscape around concessions is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduced pathogen microorganisms are important drivers of ecosystem change. This paper highlights the impact of the non-native pathogen mildew multi-species complex on the natural regeneration dynamics of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur). Pedunculate oak is a European keystone tree species, hosting a great amount of biodiversity, but its future role in (near-)natural forests is uncertain due to the lack of natural regeneration. We reviewed historical and recent ecological, pathological and forestry literature on topics related to the impact of mildew on the success of advanced natural regeneration of pedunculate oak in (near-)natural forests. We propose a novel hypothesis, the 'pathogen mildew hypothesis', to explain the failure of natural regeneration of pedunculate oak. Mildew reduces shade tolerance and vertical growth in seedlings and saplings, so sapling vitality and competitiveness have diminished considerably since it was unintentionally introduced to Europe in the early 20th century. Due to mildew infection, pedunculate oak in many cases no longer regenerates well naturally under its own canopy. We found that forest ecologists and conservationists often overlook the impacts of this 'recent' driver, while the 'closed-forest' and 'wood-pasture' hypotheses do not adequately help the management of pedunculate oak regeneration. Nature conservation and forest management plans should thus also consider the impact of mildew in order to improve natural regeneration, promote close-to-nature management of pedunculate oak forests, and support associated diversity. More generally, nature conservation, forest ecology and close-to-nature forestry should pay greater attention to the impact of introduced non-native microorganisms on the dynamics of natural ecosystems. Unlabelled Image • Ecologists and conservationists often overlook the impacts of alien microorganisms. • An alien microfungus impedes natural regeneration dynamics of a keystone species • Oak powdery mildew reduces shade tolerance and growth in seedlings and saplings. • Proposed hypothesis explains the failure of natural regeneration of pedunculate oak. • The alien microfungus threatens the rich biodiversity associated with oaks in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ForestGEO is a network of scientists and long-term forest dynamics plots (FDPs) spanning the Earth's major forest types. ForestGEO's mission is to advance understanding of the diversity and dynamics of forests and to strengthen global capacity for forest science research. ForestGEO is unique among forest plot networks in its large-scale plot dimensions, censusing of all stems ≥1 cm in diameter, inclusion of tropical, temperate and boreal forests, and investigation of additional biotic (e.g., arthropods) and abiotic (e.g., soils) drivers, which together provide a holistic view of forest functioning. The 71 FDPs in 27 countries include approximately 7.33 million living trees and about 12,000 species, representing 20% of the world's known tree diversity. With >1300 published papers, ForestGEO researchers have made significant contributions in two fundamental areas: species coexistence and diversity, and ecosystem functioning. Specifically, defining the major biotic and abiotic controls on the distribution and coexistence of species and functional types and on variation in species' demography has led to improved understanding of how the multiple dimensions of forest diversity are structured across space and time and how this diversity relates to the processes controlling the role of forests in the Earth system. Nevertheless, knowledge gaps remain that impede our ability to predict how forest diversity and function will respond to climate change and other stressors. Meeting these global research challenges requires major advances in standardizing taxonomy of tropical species, resolving the main drivers of forest dynamics, and integrating plot-based ground and remote sensing observations to scale up estimates of forest diversity and function, coupled with improved predictive models. However, they cannot be met without greater financial commitment to sustain the long-term research of ForestGEO and other forest plot networks, greatly expanded scientific capacity across the world's forested nations, and increased collaboration and integration among research networks and disciplines addressing forest science. • ForestGEO - a global network of large long-term forest dynamics plots • 71 plots, 27 countries, 7.3 million trees include 20% of tree species diversity • sampling more than trees is needed to capture drivers of forest diversity & change • knowledge gaps constrain predictions on future forest change • funding, training and collaborations are needed to sustain long-term forest research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]