What does the future of forest management and ecology look like?

Authors: Peter Clinton
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2024, Issue N.Z.J.For. 68(4) 2024, pp Pages 8 - 12, Feb 2024
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

---

Abstract: How different will the world look like in 2050 to a tree planted today? Conversely, given climate change and increased demand for agricultural land and timber, what will the world’s forests look like in 2050? Will there be more trees but fewer forests? There has never been such awareness of carbon and the significance of the carbon cycle to the future of humankind. Forests are a key part of global carbon cycles, so it could be said that the future of forests is central to the biggest and toughest challenges of our time. Thirty years is not long in the life of a forest or, for that matter, long-lived tree species. How will the ecology of these new forests develop and will forest management also evolve quickly to ensure these forests deliver on all society’s expectations given the pressures of an ever-changing world? How fast do we need to go and can we go fast enough? Will it be fast enough to ensure forests adapt to the pressures of these changes? There are clearly a lot of questions to answer about the future of forest management and ecology.

---