Operationalizing forest‐assisted migration in the context of climate change adaptation: Examples from the eastern USA

• DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4260
• Publication Date: 2022-10-12T02:34:23Z
• Authors: Brian J. Palik; Peter W. Clark; Anthony W. D'Amato; Chris Swanston; Linda Nagel
• Keywords: Vulnerability; Temporal scales; Climate Change Adaptation; Adaptive Management

Abstract There is increasing momentum to implement conservation and management approaches that adapt forests climate change so as sustain ecosystem functions. These range from actions designed increase the resistance of current composition structure negative impacts those transition substantially different characteristics. A component many adaptation will likely include assisted migration future climate‐adapted tree species or genotypes. While forest‐assisted (FAM) has been discussed conceptually examined experimentally for almost a decade, operationalizing FAM (i.e., routine use in forest projects) lags behind acceptance need adaptation. As vulnerability ecosystems increases, may become an integral tool reduce long‐term risks function, despite real perceived barriers its implementation. Here we discuss concept operational‐scale why it remains controversial, not yet widely adopted We present three case studies illustrate how practice can be approached pragmatically within framework acceptance. Finally, path toward advancing wide FAM.