Harnessing Conserved Land for Science and Adaptive Management

David A. Orwig

(monitoring component)

Importance of science monitoring effort

Emerging network of groups in NE

Protocol for long-term forest change

Case studies of 2 groups

Additional resources to assist with effort

Overview of Stewardship Science:

New England has ~ 33 million acres of forest

Varied management approaches- how will they change over time?!

W and W framework of actively managed woodlands and wildland reservesprovides major scientific and educational opportunitiespromotes sound stewardship

Documenting current forest structure & long-term dynamics of diverse forestsEvaluating the consequences of diverse management compared to reserves

C storage/annual uptakeinvasive species controltimber production

We initiated a wide-ranging forest monitoring program to be used by and attract participation from a diverse array of landowners, organizations, and researchers so that they can provide the rigorous long-term data needed

Emerging W & W Stewardship Science network

8 pilot sites, diverse partners: collaborations between private citizens, towns, land trusts, conservation organizations, foundations, universities, and state governments.

The sites represent a wide range of sizes and forest types located in remote wildlands to rural and suburban woodland locations. Varied objectives

All used W & W science protocol

Over 450 plots established!

Tracking forest change- how to get started

Develop well-defined objectives, clearly articulated goals(e.g., contrast the dynamics of harvested and unharvested areas; serve as reference site to track changes over time)

Consider appropriate sampling strategy (intensity, plot location)usually proportional to size of study area(e.g., 1 plot per 50 – 100 acres)based on time, availability of personnel; objectives

We propose a stratified-random sample, plots are randomly located based on one or more key factors: forest type, forest age, management type etc.)Should be representative of forest of interest

Advantage: system tailored to individual organizations

Stewardship Science Sampling Protocol

Based on a series of permanent plots (20 x 20 m in size); designed to be:

Consistent: among sites and across time

Applicable: across range of forest types

Inexpensive: low cost, allows repeat sampling 5-10 yrs

Useful: measurements of key forest characteristics

Expandable: allows for more in-depth analyses with interest and expertise

Protocol methodsFor each plot, record site information (elevation, slope, aspect)photograph plot and take notes on plot features (gps location)

Sampling attributes (within 20 x 20 m plots)

measure all standing trees >2.5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh 1.37 m)by species and dbh; record as live or dead, crown position

Tally all saplings (> 1.37 m tall and < 2.5 cm dbh) by species;

Tally all seedlings within a 5 x 5 m subplot

List all vascular plants within entire plot; rough estimate of cover

Recommend : inventory of coarse woody debris (details on web site)

re-sampling every 5 years

submit data to interactive web site

Case study #1: South Petersham Conservation Partnership Worcester Co, MA

Harvard University, The Trustees of Reservations, and MassachusettsAudubon Society

Harvard Forest (est. 1907) has a 3500 acre field laboratory and classroomused for a variety of scientific and educational studies, conservation,and recreation across ownerships in Petersham and central MA.

Established monitoring system that incorporates reserves and managed lands

Major objectives: 1) Document long-term re-wilding of the landscape2)Create a network of sites to examine mechanisms, driving factors, and

ecosystem characteristics (e.g., nutrient cycling )3)Measure forest dynamics associated with major environmental changes

and ecological processes4)Evaluate long-term changes in vegetation associated with forest management

(selective harvesting and conversions of tree plantations to native species)

Quabbin Reservoir

DCRW

DFG

South Petersham Conservation Partnership- ~ 4000 acres embedded in landscape of protected land with various owners

Approach

Plots located in a stratified designto sample variation in vegetation,Land-use history, soils, and future management.

Three groups interested in forming a reserve, with minimal management, allowing natural processesto dominate

Data can be compared with adjacent managed land

South Petersham Conservation Partnership (con’t)

Case study #2: Highstead Fairfield County, CT

Small, private conservation organization With commuting distance of NYC

135 acres of protected woodlands, extensive meadows and pond

In landscape with other conservation orgs(The Redding Land Trust, Town of Redding, The Nature Conservancy, State of CT, private Individuals; 30% town land protected)

Highstead (con’t.)

Highstead staff initiated long-term sampling effort to: Establish baseline sampling

Evaluate modern vegetation variation in relation to env. conditions, soils

Measure the intensity and impact of deer browse, invasive exotic plants

Approach: Selected a systematic grid for plots to cover all forest areas100 plots established and permanently marked 110 plots established on 12 adjacent ownerships with goal of resampling every 10 years.

Highstead regional role of promoting Stewardship Science

Recently held a W & W Stewardship Science workshop

Highstead ecologist, Ed Faison, regional representative

Discussed protocol, aided participants in plot establishment and sampling

Citizen Science can be a benefit to Conservation efforts

W & W Stewardship Science Web site:http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/wwscience/

Serve as valuable reference for Initiating plots- step by step methodsand manual; example data sheets

Data submitted from groups across New England; emerging open-access database

Highlight the growing network of usersIn NE advancing scientific, educationaland management objectives

W & W Stewardship Science paper Forthcoming!

Conclusions

W and W vision creates valuable scientific and educational opportunities

Using a simple, inexpensive protocol, diverse organizations are making important forest measurements characterizing their lands, initiating long-term monitoring

Through interactive website, plot-based data entered, analyzed, and archived

Will form robust, regional data set that will yield invaluable insights into how Landscapes continue to “rewild” and are shaped by a changing environment

Interested groups can get started with their own plots, contact a regional rep(scienceinfo@wildlandsandwoodlands.org)

Acknowledgements

Co-authors of Science document and manual: David Foster, Brian Hall, Ed Faison, Emily Silver Jonathan ThompsonClarisse Hart, Glenn Motzkin, Emery Boose, Julie Pallant, Matt Kelty, Rick Van de Poll

NSF LTER program

Harvard Forest REU program

Brandeis University

Highstead

Partners: Blue Hills Foundation, Northeast Wilderness Trust, Forest Society of Maine, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations, Polly Hill Arboretum, MA and CT Chapters of The Nature Conservancy, Town of Weston, MA and Town of Redding, CT