TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of planted forests in the provision of habitat
T2 - an Irish perspective
AU - O’Callaghan, Cormac J.
AU - Irwin, Sandra
AU - Byrne, Kenneth A.
AU - O’Halloran, John
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - The continued decline of natural forests globally has increased interest in the potential of planted forests to support biodiversity. Here, we examine the potential conservation benefits of plantation forests from an Irish perspective, a country where remaining natural forests are fragmented and degraded, and the majority of the forest area is comprised of non-native Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) plantations. We examine the true value of Irish plantation forests to native biodiversity, relative to remaining natural forest fragments, and to prior and alternative land use to afforestation. We find that plantation forests provide a suitable surrogate habitat primarily for generalist species, as well as providing habitat for certain species of conservation concern. However, we find that plantation forests provide poor habitat for native forest specialists, and examine potential management strategies which may be employed to improve habitat provision services for this group.
AB - The continued decline of natural forests globally has increased interest in the potential of planted forests to support biodiversity. Here, we examine the potential conservation benefits of plantation forests from an Irish perspective, a country where remaining natural forests are fragmented and degraded, and the majority of the forest area is comprised of non-native Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) plantations. We examine the true value of Irish plantation forests to native biodiversity, relative to remaining natural forest fragments, and to prior and alternative land use to afforestation. We find that plantation forests provide a suitable surrogate habitat primarily for generalist species, as well as providing habitat for certain species of conservation concern. However, we find that plantation forests provide poor habitat for native forest specialists, and examine potential management strategies which may be employed to improve habitat provision services for this group.
KW - Biodiversity
KW - Forest generalist
KW - Forest specialist
KW - Habitat
KW - Ireland
KW - Plantation forests
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84973109395&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10531-016-1125-7
DO - 10.1007/s10531-016-1125-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84973109395
SN - 0960-3115
VL - 26
SP - 3103
EP - 3124
JO - Biodiversity and Conservation
JF - Biodiversity and Conservation
IS - 13
ER -