ECOLOGICAL AND CONSERVATION INSIGHTS FROM RECONSTRUCTIVE STUDIES OF TEMPERATE OLD-GROWTH FORESTS

Reconstructive studies that use paleoecological, dendroecological, his torical and other approaches in order to interpret long-term ecosystem dynamics are increasingly generating valuable insights for ecologists , conservationists and foresters who are interested in the ecology, pr otection and management of old-growth forests. In most cases, the hist orical context provided by these studies reveals a long-term pattern o f change that challenges assumptions about the pristine condition of t hese systems. Ironically, it is the history of environmental fluctuati ons, natural disturbance processes, and subtle, often indirect, human impacts that is revealed by reconstructive work that may shape the cha racteristic structure, composition and ecosystem processes of old-grow th forests, and that will certainly provide the greatest challenge to their future conservation and management.