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In response to anticipated consequences of global warming on forest ecosystems, some adaptation options are recommended; among them conversion to more adapted timber species. However, large uncertainties remain around the impacts of climate change on current timber species. This paper provides an economic analysis of timber species choice as a tool for adaptation of forests to climate change, taking into account the uncertainty over future mortality rate of current species. We use the framework of cost-benefit analysis, taking uncertainty into account both exogenously, via sensitivity analysis, and endogenously, via (quasi-)option value calculation. We illustrate this approach on the Norway spruce to Douglas-fir example. The main conclusion of this paper is that (quasi-)option value is a relevant economic tool to analyse such a problematic. A case study shows that taking into account the arrival of information over time, within a (quasi-)option value approach, leads to adopt a more flexible management of regeneration (few expenses until more information becomes available) in case of ambiguity on climate change effect. Sequential decision making in case of choice species may allow to avoid some of the sunk costs of immediate choices related to the introduction of a new species or to the immediate clearing for natural regeneration. The case study shows that the adoption of a delay strategy may give substantial benefits, depending on the sunk costs of immediate management options (planting Douglas-Fir, or clearing for natural regeneration of Norway Spruce) and of the subjective probabilities on climate change effects.

The French National Research Program on Biodiversity and Forest Management (http://www.gip-ecofor.org/publi/page.php?id=53&rang=0) was launched in 1997. It was launched by the French Ministries of the Environment and of Agriculture, and managed by a national institution (the GIP ECOFOR) regrouping forest managers and scientists interested by Forest Ecosystems. The general aim was to create a dynamic mixed community, at the interface between science and management, to promote the development of new knowledge and its diffusion. Three research calls have been organized to date: they varied in emphasis from developing tools useful to managers through mixed and very applied programs to developing knowledge on the relationship between biodiversity and various ecological processes; lastly, socio-economic approaches have also been promoted. Periodic meetings are organized; they allow strengthening of the interactions between scientific teams as well as the between scientists and managers. The program has also produced a bibliographic synthesis on the subject for French managers (Gosselin & Laroussinie 2004). Finally a reflection on biodiversity indicators in forests is under way. We propose to present some of the achievements (through examples such as Dupouey et al. 2002, Jactel et al. 2002 as well as the synthesis of the program in 2004, Millier et al. 2004) and characteristics of this program on a poster., Nous présentons à travers ce poster le programme de recherche français "Biodiversité et gestion forestière". Lancé en 1997 par les ministères en charge de l'agriculture et de l'environnement, il a été géré par le GIP Ecofor. Son but principal est de créer une communauté mixte dynamique, regroupant chercheurs et gestionnaires forestiers. Trois appels à proposition de recherche ont été organisés jusqu'ici. Ils ont initialement surtout abordé les aspects écologiques de la question pour maintenant inclure aussi des aspects socio-économiques. En parallèle, une synthèse bibliographique a été produite et une réflexion est en cours sur les indicateurs de biodiversité forestière. Des réunions périodiques sont organisées à destination des chercheurs et/ou des gestionnaires.