Managing forests in a changing world: the need for a systemic approach. A review

  • Susanna Nocentini University of Florence, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems, Florence, Italy http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1600-1000
  • Gérard Buttoud University of Tuscia, Department of Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
  • Orazio Ciancio Italian Academy of Forest Sciences, Piazza Edison 11, 50133 Florence, Italy
  • Piermaria Corona Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria. Research Centre for Forestry and Wood, viale Santa Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy
Keywords: adaptive forest management, systemic silviculture, social-ecological systems, forest governance, landscape approach

Abstract

Aim of study: The paper is a scientific commented discussion with the aim of defining a framework which allows both a comprehensive vision of forest dynamics, as well as an adaptive management approach and policy procedures more suited to a changing and inherently unpredictable world.

Main results: We identify the main challenges facing forestry in relation to recent developments in forestry thinking, i.e. the paradox of aiming at sustainability in a changing environment, a shifting perception of the relationship between ecological and social systems, the recognition of forest ecosystems as complex adaptive systems, the need for integrating the social and ecological dimensions of forestry into a single framework, and the growing awareness of the importance of the ethical approach to the forest. We propose the concept of “systemic forestry” as a paradigm for better understanding forest dynamics and for guiding management and public actions at various levels. We compare the systemic approach with different silvicultural and forest management approaches which have been proposed in the last decades.

Research highlights: Our analysis shows that a systemic approach to forestry has five main consequences: 1. forestry is viewed as a part of landscape dynamics through a multi-sectoral coordination, 2. the logic of action changes from norm to process, 3. conservation is a dynamic search for resilience, 4. multi-functionality is achieved through a multi-entries approach integrating ecological, social and economic components of sustainability, 5. forestry institutions are reframed to address the issue of changing interactions among actors, 6. a change in the ethical approach to the forest is needed.

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Author Biography

Susanna Nocentini, University of Florence, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems, Florence, Italy

University of Florence, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems, Florence, Italy

Full professor

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Published
2017-05-29
How to Cite
Nocentini, S., Buttoud, G., Ciancio, O., & Corona, P. (2017). Managing forests in a changing world: the need for a systemic approach. A review. Forest Systems, 26(1), eR01. https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2017261-09443
Section
Reviews