Green tree retention as a tool to maintain soil microbial diversity and function after harvest

该项目将调查在采伐地保留活的绿树是否可以将采伐对森林生态系统造成的干扰的影响降至最低，并有助于保护土壤生物多样性和功能。我们将确定对人类利用森林最敏感的土壤生物和过程，以及如何保护这些生物和过程。土壤生物在养分循环中起着至关重要的作用，因此，保护一个健康、有功能的土壤生物群落对生态系统的功能至关重要。目前，为了保护收获后的土壤生物，建议只保留粗木质碎屑和限制森林地面的清除。然而，更合适的管理措施可能是在收获地点保留绿树斑块，这将为土壤生物提供活生生的、不断从其根部和凋落物中补充能量的来源。采伐对土壤生物及其相关功能的影响是一个严重的知识鸿沟，使人们无法确定当前和拟议的林业做法的可持续性。通过这项研究获得的决定性知识将使不列颠哥伦比亚省的森林管理者能够开发和使用基于可靠的、可辩护的科学的实践。不列颠哥伦比亚省S森林实践法案、加拿大国家森林战略和加拿大生物多样性战略都强调维护森林生物多样性、森林生态完整性和确保森林资源可持续利用的重要性。目前的政策、法规和指导方针没有充分考虑土壤生物对维持生态功能的重要性。这在很大程度上是因为还没有科学信息来指导决策。

This project will investigate whether retention of living 'green-trees' on harvested sites may minimize the effect of disturbance caused by harvesting on forest ecosystems, and help conserve soil biodiversity and functioning.  We will identify the soil organisms and processes most sensitive to human utilization of forests, and how these can be preserved. Soil organisms have a vital role in nutrient cycling, so preservation of a healthy, functioning soil biotic community is essential for ecosystem function. Currently, only retention of coarse woody debris and limitation of forest floor removal are recommended to protect soil organisms after harvest. However, a more suitable management treatment may be preservation of green tree retention patches on harvested sites, which would provide soil organisms with a living, continually replenishing source of energy from their roots and litter. The effect of harvesting on soil organisms and associated functions is a critical knowledge gap thatprecludes certainty about the sustainability of current and proposed forestry practices. The decisive knowledge achieved through this research will allow BC forest managers to develop and use practices that are based on sound, defensible science. B.C.'s Forest Practices Act, Canada's National Forest Strategy and Canada's Biodiversity Strategy all emphasize the importance of maintaining forest biological diversity, the ecological integrity of forests and ensuring sustainable use of forest resources. Current policies, regulations, and guidelines do not sufficiently consider the importance of soil organisms to the maintenance of ecological functions. This is largely because the scientific information does not yet exist to guide decision-making.