Forbes, Bruce
Education: PhD Biogeography (McGill University)
Research Professor, Docent
Email: bruce.forbes (at) ulapland.fi
tel. +358 (0)40 847 9202, (2710)
Prof. Forbes has a background in applied ecology and geography in permafrost environments. His research encompasses both the natural and social sciences. His experience is circumpolar having conducted field studies of human impacts on vegetation and soils, with special emphasis on the consequences of petroleum development, in the boreal forest and arctic ecosystems of Alaska, Canada, western and eastern Siberia, and Fennoscandia.
For the past decade his research has focused on: (1) resilience in social-ecological systems in cooperation with Nenets and Sámi reindeer herders; and (2) annual growth of deciduous shrubs as proxy data sources for climate change and vegetation productivity in Northwest Eurasian tundra ecosystems.
Other Activities
Prof. Forbes is a member of the editorial boards of the journals Ecology and Society, Polar Geography and Fennia. He also sits on the Fulbright Board of the Finland-United States Education Commission and the Scientific Steering Group of the International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC). He is a contributing author to the Polar Systems chapter for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report (expected 2014) and lead author of the chapter on Resource Governance for the Arctic Council's Arctic Human Development Report II (expected 2014). He holds adjunct positions as Institutional Fellow, Institute of Arctic Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA, and Research Scientist, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA.
Prof. Forbes leads the Global Change research group at the Arctic Centre.
Recent publications
- Bernes, C., K.A. Bråthen, B.C. Forbes, A. Hofgaard, J. Moen and J.D.M. Speed (2013) What are the impacts of reindeer/caribou (Rangifer tarandus L.) on arctic and alpine vegetation? A systematic review protocol. Environmental Evidence 2: 6 doi:10.1186/2047-2382-2-6.
- Xu, L., R.B. Myneni, F.S. Chapin III, T.V. Callaghan, J.E. Pinzon, C.J. Tucker, Z. Zhu, J. Bi1, P. Ciais, H. Tømmervik, E.S. Euskirchen, B.C. Forbes, S.L. Piao, B.T. Anderson, S. Ganguly, R.R. Nemani, S.J. Goetz, P.S.A. Beck, A.G. Bunn, C. Cao and J.C. Stroeve (2013) Temperature and vegetation seasonality diminishment over northern lands. Nature Climate Change DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1836
- Macias Fauria, M., B.C. Forbes, P. Zetterberg and T. Kumpula (2012) Eurasian Arctic greening reveals teleconnections and the potential for novel ecosystems. Nature Climate Change doi: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1558.
- Kumpula, T., Forbes, B.C., F. Stammler and N. Meschtyb (2012) Dynamics of a coupled system: multi-resolution remote sensing in assessing social-ecological responses during 25 years of gas field development in Arctic Russia. Remote Sensing 4: 1046-1068. Download pdf.
- Walker, D.A., U.S. Bhatt, T.V. Callaghan, J.C. Comiso, H.E. Epstein,
B.C. Forbes et al. (2011) Vegetation. In: Arctic Report Card 2011
- Callaghan, T.V., Johansson, M., Brown, R.D., Groisman, P.Ya., Labba, N., Radionov, V., Bradley, R.S., Blangy, S., Bulygina, O.N., Christensen, T.R., Colman, J., Essery, R.L.H., Forbes, B.C. et al. (2011) Multiple effects of changes in Arctic snow cover. Ambio 40: 32–45. Download pdf
- Walker, D.A., H.E. Epstein, M.K. Raynolds, P. Kuss,, M. Kopecky, G.V. Frost, F.J.A. Daniëls, M.O. Leibman, N.G. Moskalenko, G.V. Matyshak, O.V. Khitun, A.V. Khomutov, B.C. Forbes et al. (2011) Environment, vegetation and greenness (NDVI) along the North America and Eurasia Arctic transects. Environmental Research Letters doi:10.1088/1748-9326/7/1/015504. Downlod pdf
- Myers-Smith, I., B.C. Forbes et al. (2011) Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: Dynamics, impacts and research priorities. Environmental Research Letters doi:10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509. Download pdf
- Yu, Q., H.E. Epstein, D.A. Walker, G.V. Frost and B.C. Forbes (2011) Modeling dynamics of tundra plant communities on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, in response to climate change and grazing pressure. Environmental Research Letters doi:10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045505. Download pdf
- Forbes, B.C., F. Stammler, T. Kumpula, N. Meschtyb, A. Pajunen, and E. Kaarlejärvi (2011) Yamal reindeer breeders, gas extraction, and changes in the environment: adaptation potential of nomad economy and its limits (in Russian). Environmental Planning and Management 1(12)C: 52-68. Download pdf
- Kumpula, T., A. Pajunen, E.M. Kaarlejärvi, B.C. Forbes, and F. Stammler (2011) Land use and land cover change in arctic Russia: ecological and social implications of industrial development. Global Environmental Change 21: 550–562. Download pdf
- Whiteman, G., R. de Vos, F.S. Chapin III, V. Yli-Pelkonen, J. Niemelä
and B.C. Forbes (2011) Business strategies and the transition to
low-carbon cities. Business, Strategy and the Environment 24(4):
251-265, doi:10.1002/bse.691. Download pdf.
- Murray, M.S., L. Anderson, G. Cherkashov, C. Cuyler, B.C. Forbes et al. 2010, International Study of Arctic Change: Science Plan. ISAC International Program Office, Stockholm. Download [3.7 Mb pdf]
- Callaghan, T.V., Johansson, M., Brown, R.D., Groisman, P.Ya., Labba, N., Radionov, V., Barry, R.G., Bradley, R.S., Blangy, S., Bulygina, O.N., Christensen, T.R., Essery, R.L.H., Forbes, B.C. et al. (in press) Changing snow cover and its impacts. In: Climate change and the Arctic cryosphere: Snow, water, ice and permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA). AMAP, Oslo.
- Macdonald, C., Lockhart, L., Gilman, A., Baker, T. Bakke, T., Cantin, D., Dam, M., Davies, I., Forbes, B.C. et al. (in press) Effects of oil and gas activity on the environment and human health. In: Assessment of Oil & Gas Activities. AMAP, Oslo. Download [9,6 Mb pdf]
- Walker, D.A., B.C. Forbes et al. (2011) Cumulative effects of rapid land-cover and land-use changes on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia. In: G. Gutman and A. Reissel (eds.). Eurasian Arctic Land Cover and Land Use in a Changing Climate. Springer, Berlin, pp. 207-235. Download [1,4 Mb pdf].
- Bartsch, A., T. Kumpula, B.C. Forbes and F. Stammler (2010) Detection of snow surface thawing and refreezing using QuikSCAT: implications for reindeer herding. Ecological Applications doi:10.1890/09-1927.1. Dowload [7 Mb pdf]
- Forbes, B.C. (2010) Reindeer herding. In: Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010: Selected indicators of change. CAFF International Secretariat, Akureyri, Iceland, pp. 86-88. Download [pdf]
- Forbes, B.C. (2010) Marks from vehicles in Arctic tundra. In: Nellemann, C. and E. Corcoran (eds.). Dead Planet, Living Planet – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration for Sustainable Development. A Rapid Response Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme, GRID-Arendal, p. 35. Download [8 Mb pdf]
- Forbes, B.C., E. Kaarlejärvi T. Kumpula, N. Meschtyb, A. Pajunen, F. Stammler and T. Tuisku (2010) Lessons from the ENSINOR interdisciplinary research project. In: T. Huttunen and M. Ylikangas (eds.) Witnessing Change in Contemporary Russia. Kikimora, Helsinki, pp. 406-427.
- Crate S.A., Forbes, B.C., King, L., Kruse, J. (2010) Contact with nature. In: J.N. Larsen, P. Schweitzer and G. Fondahl (eds.) Arctic Social Indicators: a follow-up to the Arctic Human Development Report. TemaNord 2010:519. Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen, pp. 109-127. Download [pdf]
- Kumpula, T., Forbes, B.C., Stammler, F. (2010). Remote Sensing and Local Knowledge of Hydrocarbon Exploitation: The Case of Bovanenkovo, Yamal Peninsula, West Siberia, Russia. Arctic, vol. 63, No. 2 (June 2010); p. 165-178. Download full text [3 Mb pdf].
- Pajunen, A, E. Kaarlejärvi, B.C. Forbes and R. Virtanen (2010) Classification, compositional differentiation and vegetation-environment relationships of willow-characterised vegetation in the western Eurasian Arctic .Journal of Vegetation Science 21: 107–119
- Forbes, B.C., Macias Fauria, M. & Zetterberg, P. (2010) Russian Arctic warming and ’greening’ are closely tracked by tundra shrub willows. Global Change Biology 16, 1542–1554
- Forbes, B.C., F. Stammler, T. Kumpula, N. Meschtyb, A. Pajunen, and E. Kaarlejärvi (2009) High resilience in the Yamal-Nenets social-ecological system, West Siberian Arctic, Russia. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106: 22041-22048. Download full text [2 Mb pdf] - Высокая сопротивляемость к внешним воздействиям социально-экологической системы Ямала (север Западной Сибири, Россия). [pdf].
- Forbes, B.C. & Kumpula, T. (2009) The ecological role and geography of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in northern Eurasia. Geography Compass 3/4: 1356–1380. See abstract here, contact Bruce Forbes for a full PDF
- Walker D.A., M.O. Leibman, H.E. Epstein, B.C. Forbes et al. (2009) Tundra greening on the Yamal Peninsula, Russia: Spatial and temporal patterns of NDVI and the roles of rapid permafrost degradation and landslides. Environmental Research Letters doi:10.1088/1748-9326/4/4/045004.
- Forbes, B.C. & Stammler, F. (2009): Arctic climate change discourse: the contrasting politics of research agendas in the West and Russia. Polar Research 28: 28-42.
- Kitti, H., Forbes, B.C., Oksanen, J. (2009): Long- and short-term effects of reindeer grazing on tundra wetland vegetation. Polar Biology 32: 253-261. [full text]
- Forbes, B.C. (2008): Equity, Vulnerability and Resilience in Social-Ecological Systems: a Contemporary Example from the Russian Arctic. Research in Social Problems and Public Policy 15:203–236. In Russian.
- Willard, B.E., D.J. Cooper and B.C. Forbes (2007) Natural regeneration of alpine tundra vegetation after human trampling: a 42-year data set from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 39: 177-183.
- Forbes, B.C., M. Bölter, L. Müller-Wille, J. Hukkinen, F. Müller, N. Gunslay, and Y. Konstantinov (eds.) (2006) Reindeer management in northernmost Europe: linking practical and scientific knowledge in social-ecological systems. Ecological Studies 184. Springer, Berlin.
- Forbes, B.C. (2006) The challenges of modernity for reindeer management in northernmost Europe . In: Forbes, B.C. et al. (eds.) Reindeer management in northernmost Europe: linking practical and scientific knowledge in social-ecological systems. Ecological Studies 184. Springer, Berlin, pp. 11-25.
- Kitti, H., N. Gunslay and B.C. Forbes (2006) Defining the quality of reindeer pastures: the perspectives of Sámi reindeer herders. In: Forbes, B.C. et al. (eds.) Reindeer management in northernmost Europe: linking practical and scientific knowledge in social-ecological systems. Ecological Studies 184. Springer, Berlin, pp. 141-165.
- Kitti, H. and B.C. Forbes (2006) Vegetation structure, cover and biomass of subarctic tundra wetlands used as summer pastures. In: Forbes, B.C. et al. (eds.) Reindeer management in northernmost Europe: linking practical and scientific knowledge in social-ecological systems. Ecological Studies 184. Springer, Berlin, pp. 187-198.
- Soppela, S., M. Turunen, B.C. Forbes et al. (2006) The quality of summer pasture plants of reindeer and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In: Forbes, B.C. et al. (eds.) Reindeer management in northernmost Europe: linking practical and scientific knowledge in social-ecological systems. Ecological Studies 184. Springer, Berlin, pp. 199-216.
- Chapin, F.S., III, M. Berman, T.V. Callaghan, A.-S. Crepin, K. Danell, B.C. Forbes, G. Kofinas, D. McGuire, M. Nuttall, C. Pungowiyi, O. Young, and S. Zimov (2006) Polar Systems . In: R. Scholes (ed.) Millennium Assessment. Island Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 717-743.
- Müller-Wille, L., J. Hukkinen, F. Müller, M. Bölter and B.C. Forbes (2006) Synthesis: environmental and socio-political conditions for modern reindeer management in Europe’s North. In: Forbes, B.C. et al. (eds.) Reindeer management in northernmost Europe: linking practical and scientific knowledge in social-ecological systems. Ecological Studies 184. Springer, Berlin, pp. 365-379.
- Kofinas, G., B.C. Forbes and 10 others (2005) A research plan for the study of rapid change, resilience and vulnerability in social-ecological systems of the Arctic. Common Property Resource Digest 73:1-10.
- Nuttall, M., F. Berkes, B.C. Forbes, G. Kofinas, T. Vlassova and G. Wenzel (2005) Hunting, Herding, Fishing and Gathering. In: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,pp.649-690.
- Meschtyb, N.A., B.C. Forbes and P. Kankaanpää (2005) Social Impact Assessment along Russia’s Northern Sea Route: petroleum transport and the Arctic Operational Platform (ARCOP). Arctic InfoNorth 58:322-327.
- Forbes, B.C. (2005) Conservation; Environmental problems; Habitat loss; Polar steppe; Reindeer; Sedge meadows; Tundra; Vegetation distribution; Wet tundra, Wilderness. Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. In: M. Nuttall (ed.) Encyclopedia of the Arctic. Routledge, New York.
- Forbes, B.C., A. Tolvanen, K. Laine and F.-E. Wielgolaski (2005) Rates and processes of natural regeneration in disturbed habitats. In: F.-E. Wielgolaski (ed.) Plant ecology, herbivory and human impact in northern mountain birch forests. Ecological Studies 180, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 193-202.
- Tolvanen, A., B.C. Forbes, S. Wall and Y. Norokorpi and (2005) Recreation activities at treeline and interactions with other land use. In: F.-E. Wielgolaski (ed.) Plant ecology, herbivory and human impact in northern mountain birch forests. Ecological Studies 180, Springer-Verlag, Berlin,pp.
203-217.
- Forbes, B.C., N. Fresco, A. Shvidenko, K. Danell and F.S. Chapin III (2004) Geographic variations in anthropogenic drivers that influence the vulnerability and resilience of high latitude social-ecological systems . Ambio 33:377-382.
- Whiteman, G., B.C. Forbes, J. Niemelä and F.S. Chapin III (2004) Bringing high-latitude feedback and resilience into the corporate boardroom. Ambio 33:371-376.
- Chapin, F.S. III, P. Angelstam, M. Apps, F. Berkes, C. Folke, B.C. Forbes, G. Juday and O. Peterson (2004). Vulnerability and resilience of high-latitude ecosystems to environmental and social change. Ambio 33:344-349.
- Forbes, B.C., C. Monz and A. Tolvanen (2004) Tourism ecological impacts in terrestrial polar ecosystems. In: R. Buckley (ed.) Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism. CAB International. pp. 155-170.
- Forbes, B.C. (2004) Impacts of energy development in polar regions. In: C.J. Cleveland (ed.) Encyclopedia of Energy. Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 93-105.
- Forbes, B.C. (2004) Flax in flux: the waxing and waning of ‘people plants’ in Finland and beyond. In: G. Kearsley and B. Fitzharris (eds.) Glimpses of a Gaian world. School of Social Science, University of Otago, pp. 17-38.
- Sumina, O.I. and B.C. Forbes (2003) Vegetation responses to anthropogenic disturbance: a useful indicator for global change assessment? In: R.O. Rasmussen and N. Koroleva (eds.) Social and Environmental Impacts in the North. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 207-223.
- Mascia, M., J.P. Brosius, T. Dobson, B.C. Forbes, G. Nabhan and M. Tomforde (2003) Conservation and the social sciences. Conservation Biology 17:649-650.
- Forbes, B.C. and J.D. McKendrick (2002) Polar tundra. In: M. Perrow and A.J. Davy (eds.) Handbook of Ecological Restoration. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 355-375.
- Weladji, R. and B.C. Forbes (2002) Disturbance effects of human activities on Rangifer tarandus habitat: implications for life history and population dynamics. Polar Geography 26: 171-186.