Forest WildlifeForest Wildlife

Richard H. Yahner, Carolyn G. Mahan, Richard H. Yahner, Carolyn G. Mahan, and Amanda D. Rodewaldand Amanda D. Rodewald

What is a Forest?What is a Forest?

► Group of trees in defined areaGroup of trees in defined area► Geography – dependentGeography – dependent

Coniferous forests Coniferous forests (Western)(Western)►Examples: Pacific coast Examples: Pacific coast

Douglas fir, Rocky Douglas fir, Rocky mountain lodgepole pinemountain lodgepole pine

Deciduous forests (Eastern)Deciduous forests (Eastern)►Examples: Lake States Examples: Lake States

Aspen/birch, Central Aspen/birch, Central Mountains oak/hickoryMountains oak/hickory

History of ForestsHistory of Forests

►Pre-European forest covered 2/3 of North Pre-European forest covered 2/3 of North AmericaAmerica Disturbance regime: wildfires, native AmericansDisturbance regime: wildfires, native Americans

►1717thth century – 21 century – 21stst century century 53% decline in forest coverage53% decline in forest coverage Timber harvesting, non-native pathogens (e.g., Timber harvesting, non-native pathogens (e.g.,

Chestnut blight, agricultural clearingChestnut blight, agricultural clearing

►Loss of all but 3-5% old growth forestLoss of all but 3-5% old growth forest►Second growth forest dominates todaySecond growth forest dominates today

Forest Management and OwnershipForest Management and Ownership

►Commercial, reserved, and noncommercial Commercial, reserved, and noncommercial forestlands—focuses on timber resourcesforestlands—focuses on timber resources

►Forests used by 80-90% of N. American Forests used by 80-90% of N. American vertebratesvertebrates

►Ownership of forests effects management Ownership of forests effects management decisions for wildlifedecisions for wildlife East—dominated by privateEast—dominated by private West – dominated by public (e.g., US Forest Service)West – dominated by public (e.g., US Forest Service)

Early LegislationEarly Legislation► Forest Reserve Act (1891)Forest Reserve Act (1891)

Created first forest reservesCreated first forest reserves

► Organic Act (1897)Organic Act (1897) Established National Forest Service Established National Forest Service

(later, USFS)(later, USFS) Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford

Pinchot (1Pinchot (1stst Head, USFS) set aside Head, USFS) set aside millions of acresmillions of acres

► Weeks Law (1911) Weeks Law (1911) Created state and national Created state and national

partnerships for forest land partnerships for forest land acquisitionacquisition

Other LegislationOther Legislation

►Multiple Use and Sustained Yield Act (1960)Multiple Use and Sustained Yield Act (1960) Forests may be managed for wildlife and other usesForests may be managed for wildlife and other uses

►National Environmental Protection Act (1969)National Environmental Protection Act (1969) Environmental Impact Statements requiredEnvironmental Impact Statements required

►Forest Rangeland Renewable Resources Forest Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (1974)Planning Act (1974) Coordinated activities on federal lands including Coordinated activities on federal lands including

wildlife managementwildlife management

More Recent LegislationMore Recent Legislation

► National Forest Management Act (1976)National Forest Management Act (1976) Viable populations of vertebrates must be maintained on Viable populations of vertebrates must be maintained on

federal landsfederal lands► Emergency Salvage Timber Act (1995)Emergency Salvage Timber Act (1995)

Expedited reviews for salvage timber operations on federal Expedited reviews for salvage timber operations on federal landslands

► Renewable Resources Extension Act (1978)Renewable Resources Extension Act (1978) Created Cooperative Forestry Assistance ActCreated Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act

► Forest Conservation Relief Act (1990)Forest Conservation Relief Act (1990) Set aside harvestable land for protection of endangered Set aside harvestable land for protection of endangered

speciesspecies

Early Successional ForestEarly Successional Forest► Occurs after a disturbanceOccurs after a disturbance

PrimaryPrimary SecondarySecondary

► Early successional forest wildlifeEarly successional forest wildlife American woodcock, New England cottontailAmerican woodcock, New England cottontail Use fire and cutting to maintainUse fire and cutting to maintain

Forests and FiresForests and Fires

► Some forest trees need Some forest trees need firefire Aspen, pitch pine, oaksAspen, pitch pine, oaks

► Prescribed firePrescribed fire Controls non-native plantsControls non-native plants

Creates habitat for Creates habitat for bobwhite quail, ruffed bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, Kirtland’s warblergrouse, Kirtland’s warbler

► Habitat mosaic created by Habitat mosaic created by fire fire

Forest ManagementForest Management

► Uneven ageUneven age Trees of different ages retained via selective cutting (size Trees of different ages retained via selective cutting (size

class or age classes) or thinningclass or age classes) or thinning Seed tree, shelterwood, clustered clearcutsSeed tree, shelterwood, clustered clearcuts

► Creates or maintains habitat for wildlifeCreates or maintains habitat for wildlife Hooded warbler, ovenbird, eastern cottontail, fox squirrelHooded warbler, ovenbird, eastern cottontail, fox squirrel

► Even ageEven age ClearcuttingClearcutting Promotes early successional habitatPromotes early successional habitat

►Size of cut influences wildlife speciesSize of cut influences wildlife species

Distribution of tree sizes in an even-aged forest stand (A) and Distribution of tree sizes in an even-aged forest stand (A) and an uneven-aged forest stand (B)an uneven-aged forest stand (B)

Even- and Uneven-aged Forest StandsEven- and Uneven-aged Forest Stands

Recommendations for Wildlife-Recommendations for Wildlife-Sensitive Timber HarvestingSensitive Timber Harvesting

1.1. Protection of important habitat Protection of important habitat features (e.g., vernal pools)features (e.g., vernal pools)

2.2. Enhancing vertical diversity of forestsEnhancing vertical diversity of forests

3.3. Retention of forested buffers along Retention of forested buffers along streamsstreams

4.4. Retention of overstory treesRetention of overstory trees

5.5. Retention of dead and decaying treesRetention of dead and decaying trees

6.6. Retention of woody debrisRetention of woody debris

7.7. Creation of meandering edgesCreation of meandering edges

8.8. Maximizing forest interior habitatMaximizing forest interior habitat

9.9. Retention of old forest standsRetention of old forest stands

Forest FragmentationForest Fragmentation

► Transformation of a large Transformation of a large expanse of forest into a expanse of forest into a number of smaller patches number of smaller patches of smaller total area, which of smaller total area, which are isolated from one are isolated from one another by a matrix of another by a matrix of habitats unlike the original.habitats unlike the original.

► Creates edge--Junction of Creates edge--Junction of two landscape elements two landscape elements (plant communities, land (plant communities, land uses, or successional stagesuses, or successional stages

Edge Created by Forest CuttingEdge Created by Forest Cutting

Edge Effects on WildlifeEdge Effects on Wildlife► Birds—increased nest parasitism by Birds—increased nest parasitism by

brown-headed cowbirds; increased nest brown-headed cowbirds; increased nest predationpredation

► Small isolated forest patches may not Small isolated forest patches may not support area-sensitive species like support area-sensitive species like neotropical migrants, large mammalian neotropical migrants, large mammalian predatorspredators

► Corridors or connections between Corridors or connections between patches help diminish fragmentation patches help diminish fragmentation effectseffects

► Forest reserves should minimize edge, Forest reserves should minimize edge, be continuous, large (~ 30 ha), with be continuous, large (~ 30 ha), with minimal disturbancesminimal disturbances

Species Area CurveSpecies Area Curve

Biodiversity and ForestsBiodiversity and Forests

►Biodiversity (biological diversity)Biodiversity (biological diversity) GeneticGenetic SpeciesSpecies Community/ecosystemCommunity/ecosystem LandscapeLandscape

►Ecosystem managementEcosystem management Management with biodiversity values includedManagement with biodiversity values included Applies to variety of spatial scales (local, regional, Applies to variety of spatial scales (local, regional,

global)global)

Managing Forests for WildlifeManaging Forests for Wildlife

►5 main considerations5 main considerations BiodiversityBiodiversity FragmentationFragmentation Education (forests as outdoor laboratories)Education (forests as outdoor laboratories) Recreation (hunting, hiking, bird watching)Recreation (hunting, hiking, bird watching) Regional and Global influences (countering effects Regional and Global influences (countering effects

of global climate change, stabilizing soils, habitat of global climate change, stabilizing soils, habitat protection)protection)

SUMMARYForest types, ownership, and legislation can affect the value of forests to Forest types, ownership, and legislation can affect the value of forests to wildlife. wildlife.

Plant-forest succession resulting from fire, chemicals, or management systems Plant-forest succession resulting from fire, chemicals, or management systems can have profound effects on forest wildlife. For example, uneven-aged forest can have profound effects on forest wildlife. For example, uneven-aged forest management can influence wildlife distribution and abundance differently than management can influence wildlife distribution and abundance differently than even-aged forest management. even-aged forest management.

Several practices (e.g., retention of unique habitat features or overstory trees in Several practices (e.g., retention of unique habitat features or overstory trees in harvested stands) can have positive effects on forest wildlife. harvested stands) can have positive effects on forest wildlife.

The impacts of forest management, however, cannot be considered solely from The impacts of forest management, however, cannot be considered solely from the stand level (e.g., stand size), but must take into consideration landscape the stand level (e.g., stand size), but must take into consideration landscape features (e.g., characteristics of surrounding landscape). features (e.g., characteristics of surrounding landscape). Several types of models are available to predict wildlife species occurrences and Several types of models are available to predict wildlife species occurrences and adjust forest-management regimes. adjust forest-management regimes.

Successful forest management in the future will be contingent on biodiversity Successful forest management in the future will be contingent on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management to ensure a sustainable, productive, conservation and ecosystem management to ensure a sustainable, productive, and healthy forest for the benefit of wildlife while simultaneously providing and healthy forest for the benefit of wildlife while simultaneously providing educational and recreational values.educational and recreational values.