title: The sensitivity of current and future forest managers to climate-induced changes in ecological processes.
abstract: Climate vulnerability of managed forest ecosystems is not only determined by ecological processes but also influenced by the adaptive capacity of forest managers. To better understand adaptive behaviour, we conducted a questionnaire study among current and future forest managers (i.e. active managers and forestry students) in Austria. We found widespread belief in climate change (94.7 % of respondents), and no significant difference between current and future managers. Based on intended responses to climate-induced ecosystem changes, we distinguished four groups: highly sensitive managers (27.7 %), those mainly sensitive to changes in growth and regeneration processes (46.7 %), managers primarily sensitive to regeneration changes (11.2 %), and insensitive managers (14.4 %). Experiences and beliefs with regard to disturbance-related tree mortality were found to particularly influence a manager's sensitivity to climate change. Our findings underline the importance of the social dimension of climate change adaptation, and suggest potentially strong adaptive feedbacks between ecosystems and their managers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences, Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Peter Jordan Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria. rupert.seidl@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Rupert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.affiliation: European Forest Institute Central-East European Regional Office, c/o University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Feistmantelstrasse 4, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aggestam
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences, Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Peter Jordan Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rammer
authors.affiliation: Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Slottsvägen 5, 230 53, Alnarp, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blennow
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences, Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Peter Jordan Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria.|European Forest Institute Central-East European Regional Office, c/o University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Feistmantelstrasse 4, 1190, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolfslehner
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D001317:Austria; D057231:Climate Change; D016468:Forestry / Q000145:classification / Q000639:trends*; D065928:Forests
keywords: Beliefs and experiences; Climate change adaptation; Disturbance change; Forest management; Growth change; Regeneration change