No Action

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Landowners and forest managers can intentionally decide to take no action in managing their forests. Passive management, which allows forests to mature and be influenced by natural succession and disturbance dynamics rather than human intervention, can be an intentional management decision to help meet landowner goals.

In the context of a changing climate, forests are subject to a wide array of changing weather patterns and climate conditions, regardless of whether they are actively or passively managed. Even if there is no active management, forests will continue to change over time as a result of natural processes, forest disturbances such as storms and pest outbreaks that may or may not be exacerbated by climate change, and the growing direct effects of climate change like warmer winter temperatures.

The current condition of a site and its vulnerability to climate change and other stressors is likely to have a strong influence on how systems will change over time. Forests with greater exposure and sensitivity to environmental changes are more likely to undergo change; while forests that experience fewer impacts are generally expected to maintain their current conditions and expected trajectories for longer.

It is important to consider site-level vulnerability when deciding whether to pursue this pathway:


Forests with low vulnerability currently have less exposure and sensitivity to climate change pressures. It may be relatively easy to maintain current conditions into the future under no active management where climate-related threats and other stressors have minimal impact. Further, ecosystems that are largely intact and have high ecosystem function may be better able to buffer changes. Under passive management, less vulnerable forests may be able to undergo natural successional processes for some time until disturbance, climate change, or other stressors alter the trajectory of these systems.

Forests with moderate vulnerability may be experiencing impacts from climate change or other stressors. These stressors may create challenges for maintaining current conditions under passive management into the future, particularly as pressures from climate change and other stressors increase over time. Consideration of current and potential impacts can be useful for understanding how systems may change over time.

Forests with high vulnerability are often already experiencing impacts from climate change and other stressors, or these impacts may be imminent.


You may want to consider whether passive management is most in line with your goals for your forest. Compare this option with the Resistance, Resilience, and Transition pathways to determine what option best meets your management goals and objectives


Here are some examples of adaptation actions that can help maintain oak forests to meet objectives for general forest health to provide wood products and other benefits. The specific actions used in a particular location will vary based on local site conditions, management goals, and climate risks. Additional actions are described in the Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Forests.

Condition
Adaptation Approach
Example Action
Ecosystem contains a high-quality native plant community or is of high conservation value
  • 4.1 Prioritize and maintain unique sites
  • 4.2 Prioritize and maintain sensitive or at-risk species or communities
  • 5.4 Establish reserves to maintain ecosystem diversity
  • Identify areas for passive management (no harvest) reserve area when consistent with landowner goals and site capability

 
Invasive plants are present at low levels or nearby.
  • 2.2 Prevent the introduction and establishment of invasive plant species and remove existing invasive species
  • Use monitoring to support early detection and rapid response to prevent new infestations
Regeneration of future-adapted species desired
  • 10.2 Allow for areas of natural regeneration to test for future-adapted species
  • Rely on natural succession and shifts in species composition and distribution
Disturbance has significantly impacted forest
  • 10.2 Allow for areas of natural regeneration to test for future-adapted species
  • Rely on natural succession and shifts in species composition and distribution

Here are some examples of adaptation actions that can help maintain oak forests to meet objectives for wildlife habitat. The specific actions used in a particular location will vary based on local site conditions, management goals, and climate risks. Additional actions are described in the Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Wildlife (in review).

Condition
Adaptation Approach
Action
Forest lacks age class or structural diversity
  • 8.1. Manage for plant species diversity and complexity
  • 8.8. Maintain or mimic natural disturbance regimes to enhance habitat quality
  • Allow natural succession and stand development to occur following a disturbance from fire, wind, pests, or diseases. 
Forests lacks downed wood
  • 8.1. Manage for plant species diversity and complexity
  • 8.8. Maintain or mimic natural disturbance regimes to enhance habitat quality
  • Retain downed wood following a disturbance from fire, wind, pests, or diseases.

                     


Here are some examples of adaptation actions that can help maintain oak forests to meet objectives for water resources. The specific actions used in a particular location will vary based on local site conditions, management goals, and climate risks. Additional actions are described in the Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Forested Watersheds.

Condition
Adaptation Approach
Action
Presence of riparian areas, vernal ponds, and other sensitive wetlands
  • 1.2 Maintain and restore hydrologic connectivity
  • 1.5 Maintain and restore forested wetlands and lowland areas
  • 3.5 Prioritize and maintain unique habitats for refugia
  • Use conservation easements or other land use restrictions to prevent land use change or development.
  • Create and expand reserve areas around sites that may be more vulnerable to extreme weather and climate change
  • Identify and protect potential wetland migration corridors

Here are some examples of adaptation actions that can help maintain oak forests to meet objectives for general forest health to provide carbon sequestration and storage, along with other benefits. The specific actions used in a particular location will vary based on local site conditions, management goals, and climate risks. Additional actions are described in the Adaptation Strategies and Approaches for Forest Carbon.

Condition
Adaptation Approach
Action
Potential for land use change
  • 1.1 Avoid forest conversion to nonforest land uses
  • Use conservation easements or other land use restrictions to prevent land use change or development.
Mix of agriculture and forest lands on property
  • 1.2 Reforest lands that have been deforested and afforest suitable lands
  • Allow for succesion to forest cover to take place through cessation of mowing, tillage, or other disturbance
Forest of high conservation value and large trees or healthy, mature forest subject to few stressors
  • 5.1 Prioritize low-vulnerability sites for maintaining or enhancing carbon stocks
  • 5.2 Establish reserves on sites with high carbon density
  • Create no-harvest reserve areas (passive management) when consistent with landowner goals and site capability

On-the-Ground Examples

  • Adaptive Silviculture – Southern New England Oak Forests
    • The Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) study sites in southern New England include resistance, resilience, transition, and no action treatments in oak forests that are representative of forests across much of the region. The treatments were developed by a team of scientists and managers working to identify options relevant to smaller parcel sizes and varied ownership.