Geospatial Analytics Dissertation Defense: Louis Goodall – NC State University

Report on Research into Sustainable Forest Management and Ecosystem Services in the North Carolina Piedmont

1.0 Introduction

A dissertation research project was conducted to analyze the management of Piedmont forests for the balanced delivery of ecosystem services. This research directly addresses the inherent tradeoffs in managing natural resources, a critical challenge for land managers aiming to achieve long-term sustainability. The study’s focus on balancing the goods and services that nature provides to society aligns with the foundational principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning terrestrial ecosystems and climate resilience.

2.0 Research Objectives and Methodology

The primary objective of the dissertation was to understand the complex interactions between management strategies, climate change, and disturbance intensity on the provision of ecosystem services within North Carolina’s Piedmont forests.

2.1 Core Aims

• To investigate the combined influences of management, climate, and disturbance on forest ecosystems.
• To assess the balance and delivery of multiple ecosystem services under various scenarios.
• To determine if climate-adaptive management interventions can minimize tradeoffs among competing services.

2.2 Methodology

The research utilized the LANDIS-II simulation model to project future scenarios. This approach allowed for the exploration of plausible futures for Piedmont forests, providing a robust evidence base for developing future land management guidelines.

3.0 Key Findings

The simulation results provide critical insights for forest managers and policymakers. The findings indicate that no single approach is universally optimal; rather, a range of strategies can be employed depending on specific environmental conditions and management goals.

1. Divergent Pathways: The study revealed a divergence among climate, management, and disturbance intensity in their capacity to foster a landscape with minimal tradeoffs among ecosystem services.
2. Multiple Management Options: The research successfully identified multiple viable management options that can be implemented throughout the remainder of the century to achieve a balance of services.
3. Actionable Guidelines: The scenarios developed provide practical and plausible guidelines for future land management, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions that enhance ecosystem resilience.

4.0 Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This research provides significant contributions to the advancement of several key Sustainable Development Goals.

• SDG 15: Life on Land: The study is fundamentally aligned with SDG 15 by providing a scientific framework for the sustainable management of forests (Target 15.2) and the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems and their services (Target 15.1).
• SDG 13: Climate Action: By evaluating climate-adaptive management interventions, the research directly supports efforts to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards (Target 13.1) and integrate climate change measures into national policies and planning (Target 13.2).
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Forests are critical for water regulation, a key ecosystem service. The findings inform strategies to protect and restore water-related ecosystems (Target 6.6), ensuring the continued provision of clean water.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The management of Piedmont forests, often located near urban centers, is crucial for the well-being of communities. This research helps protect the region’s natural heritage and enhances the positive environmental links between urban and rural areas (Target 11.4).

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13: Climate Action

• The article directly addresses climate change by investigating the “combined influences of management, climate, and disturbance intensity” on forests. The research focuses on developing “climate-adaptive management interventions” to ensure the resilience of forest ecosystems in future scenarios. This aligns with the goal of taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• This is the most central SDG to the article. The dissertation’s title, “Managing Piedmont forests for balanced ecosystem service delivery,” and its abstract, which discusses understanding tradeoffs to provide “guidelines for future land management,” directly relate to the sustainable management of forests and terrestrial ecosystems. The core theme is protecting and promoting the sustainable use of forest ecosystems and their services.

Specific SDG Targets

1. SDG Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

   • The research aims to understand if “climate-adaptive management interventions can deliver minimized tradeoffs.” This directly contributes to building the adaptive capacity of the North Carolina Piedmont forests, making them more resilient to the impacts of climate change as simulated in the “future scenarios.”

2. SDG Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests

   • The article’s focus on “managing Piedmont forests for balanced ecosystem service delivery” is a clear effort to promote the sustainable use of forest ecosystems. “Ecosystem services” are explicitly defined as “the goods and services that nature provides to society,” and the research seeks to balance and optimize their delivery.

3. SDG Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests

   • The dissertation’s outcome is to “provide guidelines for future land management.” By simulating various scenarios and analyzing their outcomes, the research provides forest land managers with evidence-based options for sustainably managing their forests for the remainder of the century.

Implied Indicators for Measurement

1. Indicator for Target 13.1: Effectiveness of climate-adaptive management interventions

   • The article implies that progress can be measured by assessing the outcomes of the simulated “climate-adaptive management interventions.” A key indicator would be the degree to which these interventions result in a “low tradeoff landscape” and maintain the delivery of ecosystem services under future climate scenarios.

2. Indicator for Targets 15.1 and 15.2: Measurement of balanced ecosystem service delivery

   • The article implies a need for indicators to quantify the “balance and delivery of ecosystem services.” Progress towards these targets could be measured by tracking the levels of various services (e.g., timber, water quality, carbon storage) and analyzing the “tradeoffs” between them. The goal of achieving “minimized tradeoffs” serves as a direct, measurable outcome of sustainable forest management practices.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Summary

Source: meas.sciences.ncsu.edu