Applying historical range of variability concepts

Abstract

The historical range of variability (HRV) has been a core theme of landscape ecology and natural resource management for at least two decades. Early papers that allude to the applicability of historical ecology to management go back more than five decades. How- ever, application of the concepts to management has not been without caveat and controversy. Most conspicuous is the idea that ecological history never repeats itself in space or time. Consequently, is history dead and its’ application to management simply misguided? This question is especially germane when considering the lagged effects of climatic changes on evolving landscape patterns and processes. The literature argues that much can be learned through the study of applied historical ecology, suggesting that it is relevant to understanding the nature of historical pattern and process interactions, how climatic periods influence disturbances and suc- cessional dynamics, and to understanding the direction, rate, and magnitude of changes resulting from human settlement and development influences, including those of native people who managed much of the landscape for millennia. This book takes us on a journey through these arguments, helping us to organize our thoughts and perhaps decide when, where, and how the use and time depth of historical ecology data might influence our work and our thinking. The book is a product of a three dayworkshop held in Lansdowne,Virginia,USA, inApril2008, sponsored by theUS Forest Service and the Nature Conservancy. The focusof theworkshopwas todevelopbackgroundonthe uses of applied historical reference conditions to inform natural resource management, understand the underly- ing theory, and develop basic guidelines for land managers and conservationists on how they might use this information to inform land use planning, monitor- ing, and management activities. The premise of the book is that applied historical ecology and its primary tool, the HRV, are necessary for understanding the temporal dynamics of landscapes and ecosystems in response to drivers of change, both natural and anthropogenic. However, application is not without challenges. Throughout the book, the authors acknowledge that there are issues and nuances that must be addressed to enable rigorous application of the HRV. Chief among the challenges are the need to understand how past and future climatic variation and anthropogenic influences impact HRV estimates. The book is written by a refreshing mix of scientists and managers with knowledge and experience in studying and managing terrestrial and aquatic systems