Post on 09-Feb-2017
www.forestadaptation.org
Maria Janowiak, mjanowiak02@fs.fed.us
ADAPTING FORESTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Approaches for Action
If you want a single “answer” for how to respond to climate
change, it’s:
“It depends”
It depends on where you are working and what you’re trying
to achieve.
Desired ConditionsNatural
Forest Dynamics
Wildlife Habitat
Past Management History
Invasives
Timber Sale
RevenueDisturbanc
e:Past + FutureRecreatio
n
Forest Health
And more!!Climat
e Chang
e
Plan & Project Requirements
6 Ecoregional Projects 246 Million Acres
14 National Forests75+ Partners
(Federal, State, Tribal, Private)
Northwoods64 million acresMinnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan
Central Hardwoods42 million acresMissouri,Illinois, Indiana
Central Appalachians28 million acresOhio, West Virginia, Maryland
New England52 million acresNew York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island
Mid-Atlantic60 million acresPennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York
UrbanChicago
forestadaptation.org
Climate-Informed Conservation & Management
Climate Change Response Framework
Forest Adaptation Resources
Designed for a variety of land owners with diverse goals and objectives
Tailored to eastern forest types; update coming soon
Does not make recommendations
Menu of adaptation strategies and approaches for forest ecosystems
New online tool! adaptationworkbook.org
Forest Adaptation ResourcesAdaptation Workbook
Process for integrating climate change into management & conservation projects
Designed for a variety of natural resource managers (public, private, tribal, NGO, …
Tailored to eastern forest types
Print/excel/word versions NEW online version!
www.forestadaptation.org/far ; Contact mjanowiak02@fs.fed.us to use online tool
www.forestadaptation.org
Click ‘Demonstration Projects’
100+PROJECT
S UNDERW
AY
Adaptation Demonstrations(real-world examples)
Caroline Lake Preserve
Owned by The Nature Conservancy About 1,000 acres of forest Acquired from industrial ownership in 1997 Working forest to demonstrate sustainable forestry practices
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5 Step 1: DEFINE area of interest, management goals and objectives, and time frames.
Conservation Goals & Objectives:
Maintain/restore forests that were historically characteristic of the area
Mid-to-late successional structure
Natural disturbances Under-represented speciesNorthern Hardwoods (643
acres)Lowland Conifer (259 acres)Lowland Hardwoods (78 acres)Shoreline Buffer (<5 acres)Upland Conifer (<5 acres)
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5 Step 2: ASSESS climate change impacts and vulnerabilities for the area of interest.
Altered precipitation & drier summers Property is at headwaters of Bad
River and contains numerous wetlands– very vulnerable to hydrologic changeProjected declines in many
common northern species Property contains many species expected to decline
Site has high species diversity compared to nearby forests
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5 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities.
Challenges Under-represented species may not do better in future: yellow birch, hemlock
Lowland conifer/hardwood forests are not managed• Declining boreal conifers • Potential EAB in ash swamps
Deer herbivory could increase
Proportion of Stand Composed of Species Projected to Decrease
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5 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities.
Challenges Opportunities Some species (white pine and red oak) may fare same or better in future
Small- or medium-sized disturbances increase structure
Unique site and location may offer opportunities for refugia
Under-represented species may not do better in future: yellow birch, hemlock
Lowland conifer/hardwood forests are not managed• Declining boreal conifers • Potential EAB in ash swamps
Deer herbivory could increase
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5 Step 4: IDENTIFY and adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation.
Evaluating Current Management Actions
Practice Current Purpose
Adaptation Co-Benefits
Favor under-represented species
Species/structural diversity; habitats
Hedge against decline of one species; opportunity to favor future-adapted species
Encourage large woody debris
Structural diversity; habitats; nutrients
Create moister and cooler conditions on forest floor
Mimic natural disturbances
Species/structural diversity; accelerate succession
Makes it easier to take advantage of natural disturbances
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5 Step 4: IDENTIFY and adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation.
Northern Hardwoods – Easy Changes
Forest Current Action Adaptation ActionNorthern Hardwoods
Use single-tree or group selection methods to maintain species composition/diversity and increase structural diversity
Same, plus: Use large group selection or
shelterwood harvests to increase northern red oak
Promote white pine, black cherry, yellow birch, and other desirable species that are less likely to decline
Shoreline Buffer
No harvest reserve area
Where opportunities exist, promote white pine or other long-lived conifer component for diversity/shoreline shading
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5 Step 4: IDENTIFY and adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation.
Northern Hardwoods – Bigger Change
Forest Current Action
Adaptation Action
Lowland Hardwoods
No harvest reserve area
No harvest reserve area, BUT: If regeneration is inadequate or
emerald ash borer mortality appears likely, consider introduction of plantings of swamp white oak, bur oak, etc.
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5 Step 5: MONITOR and evaluate effectiveness of implemented actions.
Climate-informed Forest InventoryTraditional Metrics New Risk
Metrics Total Stocking Tree Species Diversity
• Richness• Evenness
Large Coarse Woody Debris
Regeneration• Saplings • Seedlings
Risk of Decline• Trees • Saplings • Seedlings
Adaptation Demonstrations
www.forestadaptation.org
Click ‘Demonstration Projects’
Atlas TimberlandsWhat does it take to do a timber harvest given shorter winter seasons?
Adaptation Demonstrations
www.forestadaptation.org
Click ‘Demonstration Projects’
Cold Hollow to Canada Build on existing
conservation work of private landowners
Improve songbird habitat
Adaptation Demonstrations
www.forestadaptation.org
Click ‘Demonstration Projects’
Providence WaterIs regeneration failure and opportunity to test new species and genotypes?
Adaptation Demonstrations
www.forestadaptation.org
Click ‘Demonstration Projects’
Hudson to HousatonicHow to we engage rural-urban landowners in climate-informed stewardship?
Uncertainty is guaranteed.Management will be most effective if it integrates uncertainty, rather than pushing against it.
There is not a shiny new tool for climate change.Rather, we have the same old tools but will need to use them in new ways.
Final thoughts
Next time you’re in the woods
Take a look around & think about:
What’s important here?How might it change?
What am I already doing to help?
What else can I do to help?www.forestadaptation.org
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5 Step 1: DEFINE area of interest, management goals and objectives, and time frames.
Management Goals & Objectives Early-successional habitat Scenic Integrity
Impacts: Potentially drier growing season conditions
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5 Step 2: ASSESS climate change impacts and vulnerabilities for the area of interest.
Challenges Aspen in long-term Few tree species Productivity issues Hazel competition Windthrow
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5 Step 3: EVALUATE management objectives given projected impacts and vulnerabilities.
Opportunities Site suitable for pine in future?
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5 Step 4: IDENTIFY and adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation.
Overall Approach: Enhance future options within existing management trajectory Aspen will regenerate now, but is likely to fare
poorly over the long term. Maintain plans for clearcut for aspen regeneration Additional actions to promote diversity and provide
future options: plant red oak and white pine Pro-active on invasives and disturbance planning
Post clearcut stocking* Survival of planted trees* Species composition for
trees* and seedlings/saplings Intensified inventory (?) *existing monitoring item
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5 Step 5: MONITOR and evaluate effectiveness of implemented actions.
Chequamegon-Nicolet Aspen: Status
• Stands are marked• Winter harvest –this
winter• Then: underplant
native future-adapted species
Management Goals Sustainable forestry Conservation
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5 Step 1: DEFINE area of interest, management goals and objectives, and time frames.
Current Management with Adaptation Benefits Follow BMPs for water quality
Increase coarse woody material
Increase tree species diversity
Increase forest structural diversity
Ensure adequate seedling regeneration
Control invasives Minimize roads & trails
Challenge: Shorter and more variable winter
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5 Step 2: ASSESS climate change impactsStep 3: EVALUATE management objectives
Potential Barriers: More planning Higher cost Will it even work??
Adaptation Tactic: Summer harvest
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5 Step 4: IDENTIFY and adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation.
Spring/Early Summer 2014• Timber marking• Road layout• Pre-sale road work• Temporary bridge
installation
Currently being harvested (weather permitting!)
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5 Step 4: IDENTIFY and adaptation approaches and tactics for implementation.