Starker Lecture Series

The Role of Planted Forests in Conserving Biodiversity in Forest Stands and Landscapes April 17, 2008. Planted Forests and Conservation of Biodiversity: An Industry Perspective Ben Wigley, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI), Clemson, SC Putting Plantations into the Landscape Puzzle: Bicoastal Ideas for Biodiversity Conservation Brenda McComb, Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA Managed forest landscapes are a patchwork of forest types that vary by species composition, age class, and management intensity. Planted stands are a dominant component of this landscape in many regions such as the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast, so their relative value for conserving forest biodiversity is important to the development of successful management strategies. A large variety of options are available for managing planted forests, and each has significant implications for the value of a stand relative to other landscape components such as old-growth remnants, commercial and residential developments, and less intensively managed second- and third-growth stands.