title: Conceptualizing Forest Degradation.
abstract: Forest degradation is a global environmental issue, but its definition is problematic. Difficulties include choosing appropriate reference states, timescales, thresholds, and forest values. We dispense with many such ambiguities by interpreting forest degradation through the frame of ecological resilience, and with reference to forest dynamics. Specifically, we define forest degradation as a state of anthropogenically induced arrested succession, where ecological processes that underlie forest dynamics are diminished or severely constrained. Metrics of degradation might include those that reflect ecological processes shaping community dynamics, notably the regeneration of plant species. Arrested succession implies that management intervention is necessary to recover successional trajectories. Such a definition can be applied to any forest ecosystem, and can also be extended to other ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: jaboury.ghazoul@env.ethz.ch.
authors.forename: Jaboury
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghazoul
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Burivalova
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Ulloa
authors.affiliation: Institute for Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D055669:Ecological and Environmental Phenomena; D017753:Ecosystem; D065928:Forests; D006802:Human Activities; D013997:Time Factors