Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map Protocol

Forests are defined in many different ways. Apart from ecological and structural factors, associated values and provided ecosystem services are an important part of forest definitions. Typically, forest types are differentiated based on climatic regions and on degrees of human modification. A better...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sini Savilaakso, Nik Lausberg, Claude A. Garcia, Raymond Grenacher, Fritz Kleinschroth, Patrick O. Waeber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/7/876
_version_ 1797527101879877632
author Sini Savilaakso
Nik Lausberg
Claude A. Garcia
Raymond Grenacher
Fritz Kleinschroth
Patrick O. Waeber
author_facet Sini Savilaakso
Nik Lausberg
Claude A. Garcia
Raymond Grenacher
Fritz Kleinschroth
Patrick O. Waeber
author_sort Sini Savilaakso
collection DOAJ
description Forests are defined in many different ways. Apart from ecological and structural factors, associated values and provided ecosystem services are an important part of forest definitions. Typically, forest types are differentiated based on climatic regions and on degrees of human modification. A better understanding of how to distinguish different forests on the basis of the values they provide is needed to advance global policies put forward by organisations such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These policies so far approach all forests in a similar manner, regardless of their condition. Without this distinction, benefits stemming from forest intactness and their contribution to global environmental challenges remain unaccounted for. Forest definitions provide the basis for policies and monitoring systems driving or enabling deforestation, degradation, reforestation, and restoration. Here, we provide a systematic approach to disentangle and synthesise different value classifications of forests. As part of a collaboration between ETH Zurich, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the University of Liège and Biotope, Forest Stewardship Council International (FSC) commissioned a systematic map that aims to clarify how definitions of forests of high value are understood and described. Focusing on forests of high value, the systematic map will address three research questions: (1) How are various terms linked to forests of high value defined in the literature?; (2) Do definitions vary between different actors?; and (3) How common are the various definitions? Bibliographic databases and organisational websites will be searched, and internet search engines used to find relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature. The searches will be conducted in English, French and Spanish. Data extraction and coding will be performed at the same time when full texts are considered for inclusion. Definitions will be extracted as well as their respective sources and other study information. We will produce a catalogue of definitions for different terms associated with forests of high value, a narrative synthesis describing the evidence base, and visualisations illustrating the relationships between definitions and terms for forests of high value and their frequencies in the literature.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T09:39:14Z
format Article
id doaj.art-6a45568a21d742eaa1c824dab872e356
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1999-4907
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T09:39:14Z
publishDate 2021-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Forests
spelling doaj.art-6a45568a21d742eaa1c824dab872e3562023-11-22T03:49:02ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-07-0112787610.3390/f12070876Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map ProtocolSini Savilaakso0Nik Lausberg1Claude A. Garcia2Raymond Grenacher3Fritz Kleinschroth4Patrick O. Waeber5Forest Management and Development, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandForest Management and Development, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandForest Management and Development, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandETH-Library, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandEcosystem Management, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandForest Management and Development, Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandForests are defined in many different ways. Apart from ecological and structural factors, associated values and provided ecosystem services are an important part of forest definitions. Typically, forest types are differentiated based on climatic regions and on degrees of human modification. A better understanding of how to distinguish different forests on the basis of the values they provide is needed to advance global policies put forward by organisations such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), or the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These policies so far approach all forests in a similar manner, regardless of their condition. Without this distinction, benefits stemming from forest intactness and their contribution to global environmental challenges remain unaccounted for. Forest definitions provide the basis for policies and monitoring systems driving or enabling deforestation, degradation, reforestation, and restoration. Here, we provide a systematic approach to disentangle and synthesise different value classifications of forests. As part of a collaboration between ETH Zurich, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the University of Liège and Biotope, Forest Stewardship Council International (FSC) commissioned a systematic map that aims to clarify how definitions of forests of high value are understood and described. Focusing on forests of high value, the systematic map will address three research questions: (1) How are various terms linked to forests of high value defined in the literature?; (2) Do definitions vary between different actors?; and (3) How common are the various definitions? Bibliographic databases and organisational websites will be searched, and internet search engines used to find relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature. The searches will be conducted in English, French and Spanish. Data extraction and coding will be performed at the same time when full texts are considered for inclusion. Definitions will be extracted as well as their respective sources and other study information. We will produce a catalogue of definitions for different terms associated with forests of high value, a narrative synthesis describing the evidence base, and visualisations illustrating the relationships between definitions and terms for forests of high value and their frequencies in the literature.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/7/876intact forest landscapeshigh conservation valueforest biodiversity hotspotsprimary forestold-growth forestindigenous people
spellingShingle Sini Savilaakso
Nik Lausberg
Claude A. Garcia
Raymond Grenacher
Fritz Kleinschroth
Patrick O. Waeber
Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map Protocol
Forests
intact forest landscapes
high conservation value
forest biodiversity hotspots
primary forest
old-growth forest
indigenous people
title Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map Protocol
title_full Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map Protocol
title_fullStr Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map Protocol
title_full_unstemmed Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map Protocol
title_short Definitions of and Perspectives on Forests of High Value: A Systematic Map Protocol
title_sort definitions of and perspectives on forests of high value a systematic map protocol
topic intact forest landscapes
high conservation value
forest biodiversity hotspots
primary forest
old-growth forest
indigenous people
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/7/876
work_keys_str_mv AT sinisavilaakso definitionsofandperspectivesonforestsofhighvalueasystematicmapprotocol
AT niklausberg definitionsofandperspectivesonforestsofhighvalueasystematicmapprotocol
AT claudeagarcia definitionsofandperspectivesonforestsofhighvalueasystematicmapprotocol
AT raymondgrenacher definitionsofandperspectivesonforestsofhighvalueasystematicmapprotocol
AT fritzkleinschroth definitionsofandperspectivesonforestsofhighvalueasystematicmapprotocol
AT patrickowaeber definitionsofandperspectivesonforestsofhighvalueasystematicmapprotocol