Faculty of Natural Resources Management Co‑Authors Study in Nature Sustainability

A new study co‑authored by Dr. Seung‑Il Lee from the Faculty of Natural Resources Management has been published in Nature Sustainability, a leading international journal in environmental research.

The paper “Biodiversity recovery is slow following clear-cut harvest of boreal forests” highlights that the recovery of plant and animal communities following clear-cut harvesting may take longer than previously understood.

Typical clear-cut harvest in Nipigon, Ontario on Sep. 14, 2025 (Photo by Dr. Seung‑Il Lee) 

The research provides important insights for sustainable forest management in Canada, where boreal forests play a vital ecological and economic role.

“I am delighted that our paper has finally been published in Nature Sustainability. This study brought together evidence from 190 datasets across the boreal forests of North America, Europe, and Russia to better understand how biodiversity recovers after clear-cut harvest.” - said Dr. Lee. “One of our most important findings is that recovery rates differ greatly among groups of organisms. For example, bryophytes associated with conifer forests may require more than a century to recover, whereas many arthropods, including beetles, recover much more quickly often within 15-35 years. Although our study did not directly evaluate alternative harvesting practices, approaches such as natural disturbance-based management, partial cutting, and retention forestry may help sensitive species recover more quickly.”

Dr. Lee’s contribution reflects the Faculty’s commitment to high-impact research addressing real-world environmental challenges.

The full article is available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-026-01868-x