Evaluations on adaptation of forest resources management to climate change in Turkey

Abstract

Climate change will affect forest resources and the continuity of ecosystem services more in the future. In this respect, it is an important requirement to ensure the adaptation of forest resources management to climate change. In this article, the knowledge levels of forest engineers on climate change, the effects of climate change on forest resources and their perceptions and opinions of current and foreseen forestry management and practices within the scope of adaptation processes were evaluated. In this context, survey studies were conducted with 241 forest engineers. According to the results of the study, possible changes regarding the impact of climate change on forest resources; abiotic and biotic damages will increase and there will be changes in species composition over time. Existing national forestry policies were found to be insufficient to prevent the negative effects of climate change, at the same time, it was stated that the transfer of some existing policies to forestry practices was not sufficient, and that forest resources management should be changed to adapt to climate change. In this context, encouraging the establishment of mixed stands, including species that can better adapt to the future climate in afforestation and monitoring forest health have come to the fore as the most important preventions.

Keywords

• climate change
• forest resources management
• forest engineers
• adaptation
• i̇klim değişikliği
• orman kaynakları yönetimi
• orman mühendisleri
• uyum