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Provisioning ecosystem services related with oak (Quercus) systems: a review of challenges and opportunities

  • Natural, semi-natural, and extensively managed oak woodlands and forests are prevalent across the world. These lands fulfil a range of ecosystem services, goods, and functions. Increasing natural and anthropogenic pressures impose threats to these lands. This paper first describes the Quercus genus and discusses management and mismanagement practices of oak systems. Then, the provisioning ecosystem services related with oak systems are reviewed, including: (1) oak’s agroforestry and silvopasture systems for the production of food, pasture, and additional products; (2) browsing of oak leaves and acorns by livestock; (3) harvesting of oak wood for timber; (4) cork oak stripping, and the uses of cork; (5) acorn-based foods and beverages; and (6) others uses, such as the production of medicines and extraction of tannins for the leather industry. We discuss the multi-purpose and multi-functional nature of oak systems, and demonstrate how they diversify sources of income for local communities, resulting in improved economic and foodNatural, semi-natural, and extensively managed oak woodlands and forests are prevalent across the world. These lands fulfil a range of ecosystem services, goods, and functions. Increasing natural and anthropogenic pressures impose threats to these lands. This paper first describes the Quercus genus and discusses management and mismanagement practices of oak systems. Then, the provisioning ecosystem services related with oak systems are reviewed, including: (1) oak’s agroforestry and silvopasture systems for the production of food, pasture, and additional products; (2) browsing of oak leaves and acorns by livestock; (3) harvesting of oak wood for timber; (4) cork oak stripping, and the uses of cork; (5) acorn-based foods and beverages; and (6) others uses, such as the production of medicines and extraction of tannins for the leather industry. We discuss the multi-purpose and multi-functional nature of oak systems, and demonstrate how they diversify sources of income for local communities, resulting in improved economic and food security. Further, we show the important role of woodlands certification, aimed at protecting oak systems while ensuring environmental equity. Also, we demonstrate how providing of financial support for reforestation and afforestation schemes of degraded oak woodlands, could restore ecosystem functioning and reverse land degradation. Then, we stress the need to involve traditional knowledge in restoration schemes of degraded oak systems. Lastly, we demonstrate how policymaking and legislation regarding the oak’s commercial plantations and farming systems could alleviate stresses imposed on the world’s oak woodlands and forests by producing alternative sources of wood for the timber industry.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Ilan Stavi, Niels ThevsORCiD, Martin WelpORCiD, Pandi Zdruli
URN:urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5478
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00718-3
ISSN:0167-4366
Parent Title (English):Agroforestry Systems
Publisher:Springer Nature
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of Completion:2022
Date of first Publication:2022/01/17
Publishing Institution:Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde
Release Date:2023/05/20
Tag:Agro-silvopastoral systems; Climate change; Ecosystem health; Livestock raising; Mixed land-use; Multiple land-use
Volume:96
First Page:293
Last Page:313
Institutions / Departments:Fachbereich Wald und Umwelt
University Bibliography:University Bibliography
Peer-Review / Referiert
Licence (German):License LogoUrheberrechtsschutz
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