Table 8. Judgments of forest practitioners on the importance of adaptation options to conserve and maintain soil and water resources in forest ecosystems in the Champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory for each of three scenarios: “current climate conditions,” “low scenario of future climate change by the 2050s,” and “high scenario of future climate change by the 2050s.” Scale of 1 to 10 (0 = no importance, 1 = low importance, 10 = high importance) or don’t know. Results shown are the average rank and standard deviation (s.d.) of participants who provided a ranking. The percentage of participants who agree or strongly agree with the statement “this management option is currently being practiced in the Yukon” is also provided. Adaptation options in bold are considered to be “no-regrets” (option is ranked 7 or higher across range of scenarios).
| |
| |
|
Adaptation Option |
Current Practice |
Current
Importance |
Importance Considering Projected Change 2050s
|
|
Low Scenario |
High Scenario |
|
(%) |
Average Rank
(s.d.) |
Average Rank
(s.d.) |
Average Rank
(s.d.) |
| |
|
Mitigate climate change through forest carbon management
|
6 |
5.0 (3.4) |
6.1 (3.5) |
6.6 (3.6) |
|
Increase forested area through afforestation
|
16 |
3.9 (3.1) |
4.7 (3.3) |
5.3 (3.4) |
|
Reduce forest degradation and avoid deforestation
|
37 |
6.1 (3.1) |
7.0 (2.6) |
7.6 (2.6) |
|
Enhance forest growth through forest fertilization
|
0 |
2.2 (2.6) |
2.8 (3.1) |
3.1 (3.4) |
|
Decrease impact of natural disturbances on carbon stocks
through fire management and pest management |
30 |
3.5 (3.2) |
4.5 (3.3) |
5.1 (3.6) |
|
Enhance forest recovery after disturbance |
17 |
4.5 (3.2) |
5.1 (3.0) |
5.6 (3.3) |
|
Increase the use of forests for biomass energy
|
33 |
6.0 (2.8) |
6.5 (2.8) |
6.7 (3.1) |
|
Modify thinning practices (timing, intensity) and rotation
length to increase growth and turnover of carbon |
0 |
4.0 (3.1) |
5.0 (3.5) |
5.7 (3.8) |
|
Minimize density of permanent road network to maximize
forest sinks |
40 |
6.0 (3.4) |
6.7 (3.3) |
7.1 (3.3) |
|
Maintain, decommission, and rehabilitate roads to maximize
forest sinks |
43 |
6.3 (3.2) |
7.0 (3.0) |
7.4 (3.0) |
|
Minimize soil disturbance through low-impact harvesting
activities |
70 |
6.4 (3.1) |
7.3 (2.9) |
7.6 (3.0) |
|
Fire suppression |
74 |
5.2 (3.2) |
5.7 (3.4) |
5.9 (3.7) |
|
| |
|