Can ecological thinning deliver conservation outcomes in high-density river red gum forests? Establishing an adaptive management experiment

• DOI: 10.1071/pc16040
• Publication Date: 2017-07-05T04:52:46Z
• Authors: E. J. Gorrod; P. Childs; D. A. Keith; S. Bowen; M. Pennay; T. O'Kelly; R. Woodward; A. Haywood; J. P. Pigott; C. McCormack
• Keywords: Adaptive Management; Thinning; Eucalyptus camaldulensis; Understory; Dominance (genetics)

Newly protected areas often have land-use legacies that affect their capacity to deliver conservation outcomes into the future. The management actions required achieve may be uncertain. This uncertainty resolved through experimental adaptive draws on knowledge of ecology and history ecosystem. In New South Wales, Australia, river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) floodplain forests were gazetted as National Park in 2010, including Murray Valley Park. Land-use had resulted one-third woodlands occurring high-stem-density (>400 stems ha−1) stands at time gazettal. High-stem-density are characterised by dominance narrow straight trees, a paucity large hollow-bearing modified understorey vegetation reduced coarse woody debris. A simple state-and-transition process model captured processes led forest state being widespread. We describe establishment manipulative experiment evaluate whether ecological thinning can forest. was designed reduce intrastand competition for water other resources, encourage development spreading tree crowns. Future results will inform decisions forests. approach employed provides template using ecosystem resolve about management, particularly newly areas.